Difference between revisions of "History of the NGO Sector"
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The world grew more interconnected than ever in the 1970s. After two decades of post-war economic growth, the onset of new problems, such as energy and currency, led to cooperation between major economic powers. Some developing countries began to industrialize, and some newly independent countries struggled to cater to basic health and social services needs of their peoples. | The world grew more interconnected than ever in the 1970s. After two decades of post-war economic growth, the onset of new problems, such as energy and currency, led to cooperation between major economic powers. Some developing countries began to industrialize, and some newly independent countries struggled to cater to basic health and social services needs of their peoples. | ||
| − | Against this backdrop, the number of NGOs mushroomed, from 2,795 in 1972 to 12,686 in 1984. Taking into account local branches, there were 79,786 NGOs in 1984, according to the Union of International Associations.<ref>Union of International Associations, ''In International Organizations: Abbreviations and Addresses, 1984-1985''. (Munich, 1985), p. 508.</ref> The result of this growth in NGOs, says Iriye: “intergovernmental organizations and international non-governmental organizations have played a decisive role—in some instances even more so than the sovereign states—in the global transformation since the 1970s.”<ref>Iriye, p. 129.</ref> It was also during this period, in the 1970s, that the term “NGOs” gained official currency.<ref>See Eric Hobsbawm, ''The Age of Extremes: A History of the World, 1914-1991''. (Pantheon, 1995).</ref> | + | Against this backdrop, the [[Numbers of NGOs|number of NGOs]] mushroomed, from 2,795 in 1972 to 12,686 in 1984. Taking into account local branches, there were 79,786 NGOs in 1984, according to the Union of International Associations.<ref>Union of International Associations, ''In International Organizations: Abbreviations and Addresses, 1984-1985''. (Munich, 1985), p. 508.</ref> The result of this growth in NGOs, says Iriye: “intergovernmental organizations and international non-governmental organizations have played a decisive role—in some instances even more so than the sovereign states—in the global transformation since the 1970s.”<ref>Iriye, p. 129.</ref> It was also during this period, in the 1970s, that the term “NGOs” gained official currency.<ref>See Eric Hobsbawm, ''The Age of Extremes: A History of the World, 1914-1991''. (Pantheon, 1995).</ref> |
Iriye attributes this growth to what historian Eric Hobsbawm calls “transnational economy” in the world . Businesses began growing beyond borders, challenging the traditional hegemony of governments in defining world order. Thus the relationship between state and society changed, with governments increasingly willing to turn to civil organization to share tasks such as social services. | Iriye attributes this growth to what historian Eric Hobsbawm calls “transnational economy” in the world . Businesses began growing beyond borders, challenging the traditional hegemony of governments in defining world order. Thus the relationship between state and society changed, with governments increasingly willing to turn to civil organization to share tasks such as social services. | ||
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Another aspect of protection of the environment was being championed: historical and cultural landmarks. At a 1972 UNESCO meeting in Paris, a convention to protect the world cultural and natural heritage was signed by 75 countries. | Another aspect of protection of the environment was being championed: historical and cultural landmarks. At a 1972 UNESCO meeting in Paris, a convention to protect the world cultural and natural heritage was signed by 75 countries. | ||
| − | Activities of NGOs in the 1980s and onwards were similar with what they had been doing before, but their importance in the world had increased. They also increasingly came into the spotlight and became more involved in local communities, sometimes coming into conflict with intergovernmental organizations in carrying out their missions. New causes became championed by NGOs, such as AIDS and landmines. | + | Activities of NGOs in the 1980s and onwards were similar with what they had been doing before, but their importance in the world had increased. They also increasingly came into the spotlight and became more involved in local communities, sometimes coming into conflict with intergovernmental organizations in carrying out their missions. New causes became championed by NGOs, such as AIDS and landmines. |
==Conclusion== | ==Conclusion== | ||
Revision as of 12:05, 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.
