НЕПРАВИТЕЛЬСТВЕННЫЕ ОРГАНИЗАЦИИ КАК ПРЕДМЕТ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЯ В ПОЛИТИЧЕСКОЙ НАУКЕ: ОТ ГРАНИЦ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ К ФУНКЦИОНАЛЬНОЙ НЕОБХОДИМОСТИ

Abstract

The article presents an overview of the studies of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and highlights their typology on several grounds. Many works can be combined according to the criterion of the existing date of foundation of NGOs and the beginning of their registration as an official institution - before and after 1945. The territorial and activity criterion determines the research of three types of NGOs: in specific countries; in countries where organizations operate without registration; international NGOs. The approach to subjectivity and objectivity divides studies into those that describe the independence and influence of NGOs and those that reveal their instrumentality and use as an agent of «soft power». Vedder's functional system of NGOs made it possible to identify studies on organizations that solve specific problems, as well as work in the field of changing opinions and attitudes on specific issues. Based on the thematic focus of NGO activities, it is proposed to single out groups of studies according to the degree of relevance of the socio-political agenda. In general, it is worth noting the growing attention of researchers to the problems of the work of nongovernmental organizations, which are becoming a noticeable subject of political processes at both the state and international levels.