Difference between revisions of "History of the NGO Sector"
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==Before 1850== | ==Before 1850== | ||
| − | NGOs in some form or another have existed for many centuries. An early form of organization, voluntary associations, | + | NGOs in some form or another have existed for many centuries. An early form of organization, voluntary associations, are found as far back as 25,000 years ago. As humans began to settle in villages during the Neolithic period some 10,000 years ago, they began to form small, local community type organizations primarily in argarian societies. In major ancient civilizations about 5,000 years ago, non-profit groups with paid staff began to emerge.<ref>David Horton Smith, “Grassroots Associations are Important: Some Theory and a Review of the Impact Literature,” ''Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly'' 26(1997): 269-306.</ref> |
Another form of non-profit organization, trusts, also existed during ancient times. Small trust funds called vaqfs for charitable purposes existed in ancient Persia over a thousand years ago. Trusts also existed in other societies, though not all of them have been for “philanthropic” causes: in fifteenth century England, the Week’s Charity was created to purchase firewood for burning heretics. | Another form of non-profit organization, trusts, also existed during ancient times. Small trust funds called vaqfs for charitable purposes existed in ancient Persia over a thousand years ago. Trusts also existed in other societies, though not all of them have been for “philanthropic” causes: in fifteenth century England, the Week’s Charity was created to purchase firewood for burning heretics. | ||
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The most prevalent form of early NGOs has been voluntary associations. Many were founded by religious groups, such as the Irish Protestants in 1647 who sent food to North America to aid settlers who were victims of wars with Native Americans. In the late eighteenth century in America, many associations were formed during a period of industrialization and modernization, particularly in the Northeast. In 1840, after a long visit to America, the French philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville had observed that these associations seemed to be peculiarly an “American” type of group and activity. In Democracy in America, Tocqueville wrote:<ref>Alexis de Tocqueville, 1966, ''Democracy in America''. (Harper & Row, 1966). p. 485-488.</ref> | The most prevalent form of early NGOs has been voluntary associations. Many were founded by religious groups, such as the Irish Protestants in 1647 who sent food to North America to aid settlers who were victims of wars with Native Americans. In the late eighteenth century in America, many associations were formed during a period of industrialization and modernization, particularly in the Northeast. In 1840, after a long visit to America, the French philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville had observed that these associations seemed to be peculiarly an “American” type of group and activity. In Democracy in America, Tocqueville wrote:<ref>Alexis de Tocqueville, 1966, ''Democracy in America''. (Harper & Row, 1966). p. 485-488.</ref> | ||
| − | “Americans of all ages, all stations of life, and all types of disposition are forever forming associations. There are not only commercial and industrial associations in which all take part, but others of a thousand different types – religious, moral, serious, futile, very general and very limited, immensely large and very minute… Nothing, in my view, deserves more attention than the intellectual and moral associations in America.” | + | “Americans of all ages, all stations of life, and all types of disposition are forever forming associations. There are not only commercial and industrial associations in which all take part, but others of a thousand different types – religious, moral, serious, futile, very general and very limited, immensely large and very minute… Nothing, in my view, deserves more attention than the intellectual and moral associations in America.” |
==Early modern NGOs: 1850-1914== | ==Early modern NGOs: 1850-1914== | ||
Revision as of 10:33, 6 August 2008
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as we know them today are generally thought to have come into existence around the mid-nineteenth century. It was only about a century later that the importance of NGOs was officially recognized by the United Nations. At the UN Congress in San Francisco in 1968, a provision was made in Article 71 of the Charter of the United Nations framework that qualified NGOs in the field of economic and social development to receive consultative status with the Economic and Social Council.
The development of modern NGOs has largely mirrored that of general world history, particularly after the Industrial Revolution. NGOs have existed in some form or another as far back as 25,000 years ago. Since 1850, more than 100,000 private, not-for-profit organizations with an international focus have been founded. The growth of NGOs really took off after the Second World War, with about 90 international NGOs founded each year, compared with about 10 each year in the 1890s. Only about 30 percent of early international NGOs have survived, although those organizations founded after the wars have had a better survival rate. Many more NGOs with a local, national or regional focus have been created, though like their international counterparts, not all have survived or have been successful.
This article presents an overview of the history of modern day NGOs, with particular emphasis on international organizations. It looks at the different causes that have been championed by NGOs as the events in world history have unfolded, from the aftermath of the Industrial Revolution to the World Wars and through the aftermath of the Cold War. It also looks at the evolution of the structure and purpose of NGOs as they have matured over the years.
