Synopses & Reviews
The combination of critical assessments of NGOs' practice and serious analysis of what might constitute 'civil society' is invaluable. These are the tough questions which are often ducked and which this book] tackles with vigour.
--Marcela Lopez-Levy, Latin American Bureau
The mix of academic and practitioner contributions, and of contributors from the South and the North, means the book is equally useful for development practitioners and policy makers, and for students of development studies.
--Journal of International Development
The rise of neo-liberalism and the so-called Washington Consensus have generated a powerful international ideology concerning what constitutes good governance, democratization, and the proper roles of the State and civil society in advancing development. As public spending has declined, the nongovernment sector has benefited very significantly from taking on a service-delivery role. At the same time, NGOs, as representatives of civil society, are a convenient channel through which official agencies can promote political pluralism. But can NGOs simultaneously facilitate governments' withdrawal from providing basic services for all and also claim to represent and speak for the poor and the disenfranchised?
The chapters describe some of the tensions inherent in the roles being played by NGOs, and asks whether these organizations truly stand for anything fundamentally different from the agencies on whose largesse they increasingly depend.
Synopsis
The rise of neo-liberalism and the so-called Washington Consensus have generated a powerful international ideology concerning what constitutes good governance, democratization, and the proper roles of the State and civil society in advancing development. As public spending has declined, the nongovernment sector has benefited very significantly from taking on a service-delivery role. At the same time, NGOs, as representatives of civil society, are a convenient channel through which official agencies can promote political pluralism. But can NGOs simultaneously facilitate governments withdrawal from providing basic services for all and also claim to represent and speak for the poor and the disenfranchised?The chapters describe some of the tensions inherent in the roles being played by NGOs, and asks whether these organizations truly stand for anything fundamentally different from the agencies on whose largesse they increasingly depend.
Synopsis
This volume outlines many of the tensions NGOs face in claiming to speak for the poor while also remaining accountable to national and international actors. Together the authors provide an excellent overview of these important issues.
Synopsis
Experienced practitioners and academics provide an insightful look into the limitations of NGOs in claiming to represent and assist 'civil society'. Changes in approaches to development are situated within changes in global political economy. Relations between donors, states and NGOs are also considered in specific contexts. The volume outlines many of the tensions NGOs face in claiming to speak for the poor while also remaining accountable to national and international actors. Together the authors provide an excellent overview of these important issues.