International Relation - Essay Example

International Relation Non-Governmental Organisations: The Conscience of the World The role of international organizations has constantly been increasing in the over the past years both at national and international levels. This has been so evident in promoting democracies, conservation of the environment, creating freedoms and human rights, developing and setting technology and professional standards, encouraging the development of sustainable developments, stimulating education and culture renewal, expanding the knowledge in science, research and technology, or guaranteeing the safety and survival of victims of natural disasters as well as man made calamities. The above mentioned undertakings are just a tip of the iceberg as the list could be endless. This is the reason as to why non governmental organizations are viewed as the conscience of rte world as they bring to light issues that need public attention and also spearhead in finding the resolutions. The Relationship between NGOs and the UN For the Non governmental organizations to be able to impact their influence, they need the support of larger multinational organizations as well (Palmer 2006). One such relationship has been in existence with the United Nations for over 50 years now. This relationship is not adequately recorded as it has experienced a lot of metamorphoses over time (Palmer 2006). However the most important thing is the common goals each of these organizations have; a world that is clean, healthy, and has opportunity for all to live their lives in justice and without fear. The UN and the NGOs both support this (Ishkanian 2008). The role of Non governmental organizations in bringing the world to its senses (consciousness) is basically consultative though recently the involvement of the NGOs has become more intensive just like governments and political organizations. The most influential NGOs are the international ones and this increased participation of the International NGOs is what has come to be commonly described as the "Civil Society" (Palmer 2006). The UN describes this as the world where social movements systematize themselves focused on certain goals, constituencies, and thematic interests (UN secretary) NGOs' Promotion of Democracy Its has been the goal of the non governmental organization and the united nations to achieve a 100 percent democratic world over the next 25 years and this can only be achieved by radical reinforcement of the principal freedom fighters (Ishkanian 2008). The NGOs have an advantage of a strong foundation of success and experience over the past decades. The freedom house has been very active in fighting fascism as an effort to create a democratic world since 1940 while the league of women voters took up the initiative to fight for democracy in the period after the World War II in Germany and Europe at large helping Spain and Portugal achieve democracy (Gagnon Jr 1995). Even America in the 1980s experienced a lot of NGO contribution to promoting democratic activities such as expansion of freedoms. The freedom house has indicated that over the past 33 years, the number of non free nations in terms of democracy has reduced by 50%. The AFL-CIO has played a very important role in the achievement and strengthening cohesion in Poland while the National Democratic Institute has been involved in teaching democrats in Hungary about communism and benefits of democracy. NGOs are very effective as they can operate even in dangerous nations where dictators are still in power and where dictatorship is no longer in existence. This fact can be the mother of all strategies of initiating and maintaining democracies (Donald 1994). Dictatorship is the moist challenging issue in the achievement of democracy, paradoxically, with international NGOs in place, these fact is often very string as there is immense knowledge of how dictators in the past have left power and long lasting democracies implemented. Recently, a research by the freedom house indicated that so far over 67 transitions of freedom have been won and contrary to what is known, the transitions are broad ranging, peaceful (non violent civic rebellion which uses strategies like mass action, boycotting, protests, blockade, civil disobedience and strikes to take power from authoritarian leaders and eliminate their support including loyal army forces. Most dictators never turn democratic and remain in power as they have to be ousted out. And as study has indicated before, the mode or force used to obtain the democracy determine the its duration where peaceful transition, coalitions that are broad based and non violent transition brings democracy that lasts for longer while forceful evictions of the dictatorship endanger the successive governments and violent repression may ensue. NGOs have played a great deal in achieving some kind of transition, the only disadvantage is that these are normally not the peaceful activists demonstration rather the nations that have already ousted the dictatorship government. As already indicted, the NGOs priority of funding is the governments that are already collapsing after evicting the dictator ruler. Through this has changed over the previous years, there are still some cases of disparity for instance in China, over 60% of the population still live under dictatorship and only one percent finding from USG and these Chinese authorities have the same habit as the Pakistan, Egypt and other key nations that operate under dictatorship(Donald 1994). In Saudi Arabia, the efforts to claim democracy do not receive any financial support from NGO. North Korea was not getting any financial assistance until the congress pushed for the support via specific act and this has been so for several other nations (Gagnon Jr 1995). Example: Bringing Democracy to Serbia Serbia has experienced very little changes in the political scenario of all the nations in the central and Eastern Europe over the past decade. The ruling political party had remained in power sine the communist period managing economic and other political institution and did no show any signs of letting go. Serbia and Yugoslavia are two best examples of nations that can explain democratization process as that present ideal situation of unresolved conflicts at ethnic and national levels (Ishkanian 2008). Democratization can only be feasible when these conflicts are cleared. The war in Bosnia ended in 1995 with the opposition party winning majority of the cities and this presented the perfect opportunity for initiating democratization process as the people protested in large numbers when the government tried to block the results (Donald 1994). There were two international NGOs that participated in this transformation the most; the US founded International Republican Institute and the National Democratic institute. During the time of war, diplomatic relations with the government of Yugoslavia were cut after signing of the 1995 Dayton accord and international help to Serbia only begun in 1997 following a three day protest on the streets. When the presidential elections were scheduled in 1997, the USAID saw an opportunity to institute opposition forces to work together with the government and to consolidate power; however these plans were slow and could not achieve long term activities. USAID funded NDI after elections and NDI could initiate its programs in the region which included monitoring domestic elections through the free elections and democracy centre (Donald 1994). In 1998, NDI focused on long term development of party programs. IRI on the other hand offered long term support for political parties beginning its functions from Hungary which is a border town and concentrated on Vojvodina region and Zajedno coalition and moved to Montenegro afterwards. Generally it's this western NGO involvement with the NATO that saw the eviction of the expatriate team from Serbia. NGO and Human Rights Protection The protection of human rights is an internationally accepted duty for everyone and the non governmental organizations are at the fore front to ensure that these human rights are respected and not infringed by anybody or government however power it is. The mission o such organisation as the conscience of the world is to ensure that human dignity in respected and maintained, there is equal justice for everyone, safety and security of everyone is assured, peace and stability for every nation and that people respect the rule of the law in every part of the planet, Human Rights First (2006). One such important human rights watch (NGO) is the Human Rights First which was formed in 19768 and has operated in the US and other western nations to protect and offer support to the human rights activist who are threatened for fighting for rights and freedoms of the people in their countries. It's no surprise that the transformation from dictatorship to democracy will be faced by a lot of opposition from the government since reformers advocating for change usually base their arguments on freedoms that dictators want to take away, for instance, establishment of autonomous judiciary, free press, and control of executive powers, Human Rights First (2006). Examples Human rights first have worked in several countries but we'll look at a few of them; in Indonesia, Munir Said Thaib who was a very vibrant human rights activist and due to this he was killed by arsenic acid poisoning. Senior intelligence official were investigated for his dearth and this was a very major setback for human right protection and the democratization process in Indonesia, Human Rights First (2006). In Thailand, a similar incidence took place where a lawyer named Somchai disappeared never to be found after filing a lawsuit against police for torturing several clients. One of the policemen was arrested and charged with coercion and was sentenced to four year imprisonment while other got away for lack of evidence. Somchai was just one of the 20 people who had been killed in a span of five years because of their stance on human rights. In fact one of the survivors of these killing attempts said that the government was been managed by force and not by democracy as the right defending mission found that 'big men' were behind all these, Human Rights First (2006). Women have basically been sidelined in terms of democratic rights and as such, Isis-Women's International Cross Cultural exchange was created in 1974 in Geneva. This NGO has been very active in promoting the women's rights and justice as well via documentation of incidences of violation of these rights and freedoms, making exchange of skills possible, enhancing communication mechanisms, increasing knowledge to manage situations and to help each other on how to triumph over the gender disproportion (Ishkanian 2008) NGOs and Environmental Conservation Effective political administration and achievement of democracy includes critical aspects of the human life like supporting healthy NGO participation in the name of civil society, respecting the human rights, enhancement of democracies and ensuring a responsible government (Guilhot 2005). Over the past years, the development initiatives and strategies implemented by many nations were those that focused on the material benefit and accumulation of wealth with no regard to the limited resource base. This methods only benefited the few elite while bring enormous destruction to the environment. These effects cannot be hidden and hence the current development methods are aimed at conserving the environment (environment developments that are self sustaining) in that the currents needs are met without affecting or compromising the survival of the future generations in any way in terms of meeting their needs by then, World Energy Assessment (2000). NGOs are working in collaboration with governments to ensure that there is effective governance and environmental conservation. Broad based initiative to conserve the environment has become an issue of legitimacy rather than patronage and hence the public has to be made aware that the law is formulated for the best of their interests otherwise it may loose the legitimacy. The efforts by the government to regulate and control the people through legitimate issues is very successful as it's is cost effective, most stable and more reliable as many people are likely to accept governments legitimacy. Examples Natura is an NGO that was established in 1978 in Ecuador to take care of national parks and the natural wildlife and also the livestock. These NGO recruits members via outreach programs and national public campaigns. The NGO has benefited from Nature conservancy and the world wildlife fund initiatives. Another critical body id Pasochoa; Most of these bodies created in the Latin America seek to conserve the large pieces of land that are natural resources but do not have the correct protection. The government is responsible for taking care of official lands like game parks, and this is usually done without financing to protect and manage these lands (Guilhot 2005). Over the past years, the NGOs have been very useful in reducing the gap between the common citizens and the governments. The growth of these NGOs has also been overwhelming. Environmental degradation is likely to increase despite this because the systems are getting frustrated and that some governments are unable to or are not willing to effect these changes (Guilhot 2005). Local non governmental organizations have been very important in Latin America as national interest groups have put up a combined effort to conserve the environment and currently even those that were previously not interested in ecological issues are currently participating(Guilhot 2005). NGOs are increasingly gaining democratic power in South America since they are attracting more diverse constituencies and hence political power. Natura has been very effective in obtaining broad based support. NGOs and Sustainable Energy The United Nations has proposed the use of energy that is self sustainable and this call has received support from several NGOs since energy and resource conservation in very important in the current developing world that is depleting these resources at a very fast rate. Sustainable energy can be described as the energy resource whose production and use allows no degradation to the environment, does not deplete resources, does not have negative or adverse health effects and will be available for future generations (Guilhot 2005). There are non governmental organizations and some consumer bodies that have taken up the role of ensuring that green gas emissions are reduced and that no nuclear energies are being used as their production could have devastating outcomes on the surroundings. Kyoto protocol initiative is aimed to conserve the environment, World Energy Assessment (2000) Conclusion Non governmental organizations are consciousness to the world as they has brought to light many issues like the rule of law, human rights, sustainable energy, government accountability, free press, women participation, political party development and civic education among others. This way, the people are able to improve their society. References 1. Donald H. (1994). Democracy in Divided Societies. In Larry Diamond and Marc Plattner, (Eds). Nationalism, Ethnic Conflict and Democracy. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press pp.35-55 2. Gagnon Jr. (1995) Ethnic Nationalism and International Conflict. The Case of Serbia. International Security, vol.19, no.3 pp.130-166 3. Guilhot N (2005). The Democracy Makers. Human Rights and International Order. Columbia University Press 4. Human Rights First (2006). The Role of Non Governmental Organizations in Development of Democracy. Human Rights First Testimony 5. Ishkanian A (2008). Democracy Building and Civil Society in Post-Soviet Armenia. Rutledge 6. Palmer M. (2006). Promotion of Democracy by Non Governmental Organizations. An Action Agenda. Foreign Relations Committee. 7. World Energy Assessment (2000). Energy and the challenge of sustainability. New York Read More