To What Extent NGOs is the Voice of Civil Society - Essay Example

Introduction According to Charnovitz (1997), Non-governmental organizations or NGOs are: “Groups of individuals organized for the myriad of reasons that engage human imagination and aspiration. They can be set up to advocate a particular cause, such as human rights, or to carry out programs on the ground, such as disaster relief” (p.186). It is not necessary that NGO’s operate only within the territories of a country. Many of the NGOs are operating globally. “For example, the International Amateur Athletic Federation includes twenty-one more members than the United Nations” (Charnovitz, 1997p.186). Moreover, plenty of NGO’s are getting financial aids from overseas countries. Many people believe that NGOs emerging from the Civil Society; hence representing it. In their opinion, NGOs mediate relationships between state and civil society and they are part of civil society. In order to learn more about the role of NGO’s in a civil society, it is necessary to define the term civil society. Civil society is an ambiguous term. There are plenty of definitions attached to the term civil society by different scholars. “The paradox about civil society is that it covers a vast range of activities - yet it's very hard to define. One description puts it quite succinctly: 'A civil society is a public space between the state, the market and the ordinary household, in which people can debate and tackle action” (What Is Civil Society?, 2001). When applied in developing country contexts, it is often used to refer to the NGO sector, social movements and trade unions. It sometimes even includes the private sector. “The term civil society is generally used to classify persons, institutions, and organizations that have the goal of advancing or expressing a common purpose through ideas, actions, and demands on governments” (Gemmill G and Bamidele-Izu, n.d. p.3). In any case, politicians, governmental and nongovernmental organizations are working for the wellbeing of the civil society; at least on papers. It is mandatory for the government and governmental organizations should work for the betterment of the civil society; however it is impossible to force nongovernmental organizations to work in favor of the civil society. NGOs have their own agendas and in most of the cases, they are working for the success and fulfillment of those agendas. In other words, the commitments of NGOs towards civil society cannot be guaranteed always. This paper critically analyses the question; To what extent NGOs are the voice of civil society? To what extent NGOs is the voice of civil society? According to Lister (2003), “The legitimacy of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is poorly theorized in development studies literature, where it is usually seen as dependent on accountability, performance and representativeness (p.175). NGOs play an important role in the development of civil societies all over the world. The contributions of NGO’s in shaping the public opinion in a particular manner cannot be neglected. It should be noted that audio, video and print media organizations play vital role in streamlining public opinion in favour or against the governments. According to Feher (2007), “Society should be regarded as an essential tenet in the redefinition of modern governmentality (p.615). No democratic government can survive long if it functions against the will of the society. Abraham Lincoln has defined a democratic government as a government of the people, by the people and for the people. The cases of totalitarian governments are different. For example, in China, civil society has no role in the formation of the government. One of the major characteristics of democratic states is the importance of NGOs. In totalitarian countries, NGOs have weaker role in the governmental decision making process. However, in democratic countries like India or America, civil society elects the government and hence the voice of civil society gets lot of importance. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are major players in development aid today. It is widely believed they represent civil society and that, for example, the UN and the World Bank would be strengthened if NGOs were given a larger influence over policy formulation and development (Holmén & Jirström, 2009, p.429). NGOs play a vital role in the development of civil societies across the world. It is impossible for governmental agencies to assist the public or civil society always in its needs. In fact governments all over the world are currently encouraging private participation even in service and public utility sectors. For example, telecommunication was under governmental control in many countries until recent times. However, the introduction of globalization and the subsequent increase in free trade between countries forced governments of open up even critical public sectors to private participation. Power transmission, water supply etc are currently managed by NGOs in many countries. In fact, governments are currently trying to limit their activities in public utility services and NGOs are getting prominence in the service and public utility services. “NGOs and other civil society groups are not only stakeholders in governance, but also a driving force behind greater international cooperation through the active mobilization of public support for international agreements” (Gemmill and Bamidele-Izu, n.d. p.2). It should be noted that NGOs play an important role in international negotiation process and decision making process. For example, the influence of NGOs in the development of American foreign policy towards Middle East is well known. Majority of the NGOs in America are supporting Israel. That is why American government is keen in developing a foreign policy in favor of Israel. If public support in America shifts from pro-Israel to anti-Israel, American government would definitely change its foreign policy towards Middle East. In short, NGOs and public opinion are influencing the governmental decision making immensely. It is a fact that NGOs played important roles in the development of certain countries. For example, Bangladesh is one country which is blessed with the services of NGOs. Many of the NGOs in Bangladesh are working for the betterment of the civil society. In fact majority of the Bangladeshi NGOs are delivering more than what the government organizations deliver to the civil society. White, (1999) pointed out that “The NGOs have had a particularly high profile since the disastrous floods of 1988 in Bangladesh, when they were at the forefront of relief and rehabilitation” (p.310). In the 1991 cyclone disasters in Bangladesh also, the NGOs played a vital role in the success of the rehabilitation process. In fact, governmental machineries were a huge failure in providing proper relief to the cyclone and flood victims in Bangladesh. However, the NGOs in Bangladesh combined well with the government whenever disaster struck Bangladesh. In the reconstruction of Bangladesh, after natural and manmade disasters, NGOs are delivering much more than the governmental organizations. When it comes to dealing with emergency situations, NGOs in other parts of the world should seek lessons from Bangladeshi NGOs. “A 1990World Bank review of `Poverty and Public Expenditure' in Bangladesh, for example, repeatedly compared NGO activities favorably with those of the state, and recommended the expansion of NGOs to supplement government efforts and provide for improvement in delivery of services through competition”(White, 1999, p.308). NGOs are commanding huge respect from the civil society in Bangladesh. For example, “An NGO created by a Bangladeshi citizen to help the women of Bangladesh create small business through microcredit is categorized as national or local, so long as its activities do not go beyond the boundaries of Bangladesh” (Atlani-Duault, 2007 p.15). The previous histories and the functioning of the Bangladeshi NGOs are motivating the public to extend full support to all NGO activities within the boundaries of Bangladesh. In Uganda, NGOs played an important role in the development of civil society (Hearn, 2001, p.50). South Africa is another country which enjoyed the contributions of NGOs for the development of civil society. “In South Africa the Institute for a Democratic Alternative in South Africa (IDASA) was a central project of ‘democracy promotion’ work. In post-apartheid South Africa this work continued and was, for example, the basis of USAID support for both the Centre for Civil Society and the Centre for Public Participation in Durban” (Pithouse, 2006) At the same time, in many other countries the functioning of NGOs is questionable. In many countries, the “Tensions between the state and the NGOs are most clearly evident in government moves to tighten control of NGO activities, and particularly their access to foreign funding” (White, 1999, p.312). There are plenty of incidents in which the governments in other countries were forced to limit the activities of the NGOs. This is because of the fact that many NGOs are working for the fulfillment of selfish hidden agendas which are going against the interests of the civil society, even though their publicly declared missions were in favor of the civil society. For example, Gospel for Asia (a charity organization registered in India) has publicly declared that their mission is to spread gospel across India and Asia. They are getting enormous funds from foreign countries for the spreading of Gospel in India and Asia. They argue that they are using these funds to help the poor across India and Asia. However, their activities lack transparency and the government of India is currently investigating it. Petitioner A M Varghese of Thiruvananthapuram sought a detailed probe into the utilization of funds by Gospel of Asia and its head K P Yohanan and Believers Church of India. According to the letter, Believers Church of India and Gospel for Asia had received Rs 1,044 crore from Texas alone for philanthropic purposes. The state government had alleged that they have ’serious doubts’ about the activities of the organizations and had also raised doubts if they were utilizing the foreign funds for the purpose for which it was received. This letter was on the basis of information collected by the state intelligence (K P Yohannan of Gospel for Asia - Kerala's contribution to International Fraud arena, 2010) Manji (1997) pointed out that “With direct funding, NGOs would shift their accountability away from their own constituencies towards donor agencies” (p.175). Commercialization has intruded into all life segments at present. Even charity is a business nowadays in this world. K P Yohannan like people knows very well that they can put dust in the eyes of the government and the public in the name of charity. These people are getting billions of dollars for the charity purpose. However, they are using it for personal gains. It should be noted that governments have given plenty of tax exceptions to charity organizations. Moreover the rules for receiving foreign aids by charity organizations are liberal in many countries. Governments give lot of concessions to charity organizations because of their publicly declared policies in favor of the civil society. However, these declared policies often rest on papers alone. In practice these charity organizations of NGOs are working for selfish gains. “Currently, the way most NGOs seek and receive resources from their external environments, subjects them to external control and leaves them unable to contribute to the process of civil society development” (Hudock, 1999, p.2). In fact external funding is acting as a burden in the shoulder of NGOs. It should be noted that external funding agencies have their own agenda’s while helping the NGOs in a particular country. It is not necessary that these hidden agendas always directed in favor of the civil society. There are plenty of terrorist’s organizations in Pakistan which work in the name of charity. Pak government cannot take any action against these NGOs since their publicly declared policies are in favor of the civil society. New York officials recently received a surprising offer of financial aid from Hafiz Saeed, the founder of a terrorist group in Pakistan which is working in the name of a charity organization (Jamaat ud Dawa) at present (Yousuf, 2012). The offer was to help the victims of hurricane Sandy. It is well known that Hafiz Saeed is one of the hardcore terrorists who are causing huge problems not only to India but also to America like Christian dominated countries. Hafiz knows very well that charity organizations have better acceptance in civil society than terrorist organizations. In short, the examples of functioning of NGOs in Pakistan and India are not giving the same picture which is giving by the NGOs in Bangladesh. The predominant way of thinking about NGOs in world affairs is as transnational interest groups (Baker, 2002, p.118). It should be noted that majority of the NGOs operate internationally. The international NGOs cannot work in favor of a particular society alone. Such NGOs should work in favor of the well-being of the international society; not for the wellbeing of a civil society in a particular country. It is not necessary that the needs of international society and that of the society in a particular country always travel in parallel directions. For example, the fundamental societies in Afghanistan or Pakistan are not much interested in women education. An NGO operating internationally in the educational sector cannot support this view. It should be noted that civil societies or civilized societies all over the world are trying hard to enhance women education as a measure to raise the standard of living of women community. According to Keane (1988),“Modern civil societies are seriously endangered by the corruption of public spirit” (p.42). As mentioned earlier, civil societies in Pakistan or Afghanistan are unable to function in accordance with the spirit of international civil societies. This is because of the fact that religion has a strong hold in the building of civil societies in Afghanistan or Pakistan. In other words, civil societies in these countries are giving first priority to religious principles and teachings. They never accept any life principles which are going against the interests of their religious principles and customs. NGOs working in these countries forced to work in accordance with the religious principles. Since the 1970s a drift away from state corporatist solutions to social welfare problems has had its parallel in an academic rediscovery of the voluntary sector. Revived confidence in non–statutory approaches often assumes two things. Firstly, that voluntary action is a vital component in civil society and that civil society itself is an attribute of liberal democracy. Secondly, it is frequently assumed that there is an opposition in principle between the voluntary and the statutory and in some quarters an assumption that voluntary action is the superior mechanism (Kidd, 2002, p.328). Even though majority of the people all over the world are supporting democracy, still democracy is a distant dream for people in Middle East. Some Islamic dictators are ruling Middle East countries with the help of religion. These rulers educate the public that democracy is against the principles of Islamic religion. NGOs in these countries have limitations in educating the public about the necessities of democracy. It should be noted that in Libya and Egypt, civil society was successful in expelling dictatorship, mainly because of the contributions from international NGOs. It is often said that revolutions in these countries are caused by social media such as Facebook, Twitter etc. In other words, NGOs like Facebook and Twitter did succeed in causing revolutions in Libya and Egypt. Nyamugasira (1998) argued that “what is needed at present, given the current global economic paradigm, is an authentic 'joint venture' between NGOs and the authentic voices of poor people themselves, that would bring the poor into the mainstream”( p.297). Recent recession has caused huge problems to poor people all over the world. Wealthy people did face much problems because of the ongoing recession. NGOs can play a vital role in helping the people to come out from the recession problems. Governmental machineries have limitations in helping the poor people beyond certain extent. It should be noted that Bill Gates and Warren Buffet have recently announced their decision to donate a substantial portion of their earnings to charity. However, Pearce (2000) has pointed out that “NGOs are no longer seen as offering significant advantages either in community development or in complex emergencies. Instead, they are ‘useful fig-leaves to cover government inaction or indifference to human suffering’, both in complex emergencies and in economic restructuring” (p.20) Conclusion NGOs can affect the development of civil society in many ways. They can accelerate as well as retard the developments of a society. When NGOs receive financial aids from overseas countries, they forced to obey the orders of the funder. On the other hand, when NGOs rely only on the internal sources, they can function more independently and contribute to the development of the society. Bangladesh, Uganda and South Africa are some of the countries in which NGOs contribute heavily to the development of the civil society whereas in countries such as Pakistan and Afghanistan, NGOs do not have enough freedom to function independently and contribute to the wellbeing of the society. References Atlani-Duault, L. 2007. Humanitarian Aid in post-Soviet Countries: An Anthropological Perspective. Central Asian Studies Series 10. London ; New York: Routledge, 2007. Baker, G. 2002. Civil Society and Democratic Theory: Alternative Voices. Routledge Innovations in Political Theory 9. London ; New York: Routledge, 2002. Charnovitz, S. 1996. Participation of Non-Governmental Organizations in the World Trade Organization.” University of Pennsylvania. Journal of International Economic Law 17: 331-357. Feher, M. 2007. Nongovernmental Politics, Publisher: Zone Books (March 16, 2007) Gemmill G and Bamidele-Izu, N. d. The Role of NGOs and Civil Society in Global Environmental Governance. 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