Building Civil Societies in East Central Europe: The Effect of American Non-governmental Organizations on Women's Groups

Abstract

Since the collapse of communism, East Central Europe has been a laboratory for democratic experimentation. On several fronts, the experiment appears to have been a great success. While many have described this historical transformation, too little has been written about the role of international actors in this process. This is surprising given the number of external actors, particularly American non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The article examines the relationship between American NGOs and women's groups in Hungary, Poland and Russia. It argues that although American NGOs have had discrete positive effects on certain groups and individuals, the strategies employed by these groups may have actually hindered the success of the very goals they pursued. Employing the concept of a domestic advocacy network, the article explains the importance of elite support, contextually rooted organizations and ideas that resonate with local conditions and culture.