Non State Actors Flashcards
what are NGOs?
Non-governmental organisation is NGOs are non-profit voluntary citizens group organised on a local national or international level such as Christian aid
They perform a variety of service and humanitarian functions bring citizens consents to governments advocate and monitor policies and encourage political participation through provision of information
who has drawn attention to the damaging effects of SAP conditions and what has been the result?
There are a variety of NGOs such as Greenpeace and Oxfam and social movements such as the women’s movement green movement anticapitalism and anti-globalisation movements that have drawn attention to the damaging effects of SAP conditions
In the light of criticisms and pressure from such organisations the IMF and World Bank have replaced saps with poverty reduction strategy papers PRSPs
There has also been a shift from economic growth to sustainable development which takes account of the impact on the environment of the lives of ordinary people particularly women this involves what the World Bank and IMF call participation and empowerment
More attention is being paid to promoting and rewarding good governance and democratisation
what are PRSPs?
PRSPs Are more flexible allow for input from the recipient countries place more Emphasis on poverty reduction and allow longer loans of up to 7 years
what has the World Bank been doing?
The World Bank in particular has devised guidelines that addressed the treatment of indigenous people resettlement the environmental impact of its project gender and the disclosure of information
It also develops social safety net and provides microcredit (small-scale funds) to empower women and encourage them to participate in the domestic economy of their country
what have the IMF and World Bank done together?
With the IMF the World Bank has created a heavily indebted poor country initiative
However there has been no fundamental change in the belief in free market solutions to promote economic development
what is global civil society?
Global civil society refers to the emergence of two main types of groups and association that operate across the globe and are independent of states
1) Transnational movements — These operate to challenge the institutions of global governance of globalisation they cover issues such as human rights women’s rights environmentalism and the anti-globalisation and Anticapitalist movements
2) NGOs — Work within the institutions of global governance to influence the making and implementing a policy there are over 3000 NGOs registered to work with the UN through its various bodies
how has the global civil society developed?
The global civil society has developed in parallel with international organisations such as the UN
It is seen as a bottom-up democratising force
what has the global civil society led to?
Global civil society acts as a democratic counterbalance the Washington consensus by making sure the voices of the marginalised are heard
It has placed the alleviation of poverty on the agenda and forced the IMF and the World Bank to reform their approaches to economic growth
what have NGOs become a key channel for?
NGOs have also become the key channel for international aid to tackle humanitarian crises like famine and to help people lift themselves out of poverty delivering health care and education programs to the poorest on the planet they have also encouraged development
what is a problem with funding and aid from NGOs?
However much of this funding comes from TNCs states at the national organisations meaning NGOs are forced to work within the Washington consensus rather than challenge it
Aid has done little to boost economic growth or alleviate poverty as it does not tackle the structural imbalances in the global colony e.g. sub-Saharan Africa receives $134 billion each year in loans, foreign investment and aid yet still remains incredibly poor
what is the role of the global civil society in tackling contemporary issues?
The role of global civil society in tackling contemporary issues
Global civil society acts as a democratic voice of ordinary people especially the marginalised to counterbalance the power of international organisations and TNCs
Forces global governance to listen to ideas which challenge the orthodoxy of free trade and free markets and adapt to take those voices into consideration in decision-making
This has been seen to force international organisations to reform to focus more on poverty environmental concerns and human rights issues
