National and supranational government–NGO relations: anti‐discrimination policy formation in the European Union

Abstract

AbstractThis article explores the implications of internationalization for national government–NGO and national‐NGO and international NGO relations, and NGO policy influence at national and international levels. Internationalization is defined as supranational problem solving. Following a brief overview of national and international issues of government–NGO relations, the article describes European Union (EU)‐NGO interactions. A case illustration on the EU's policy directives on equal treatment and anti‐discrimination highlights a mutually supportive relationship between national and international NGO coalitions and their respective lobbying efforts at national and international levels. The case reveals how supranational governing bodies can play a role in galvanizing NGO activities and movements potentially contributing to cost‐effective, technically informed, and publicly supported policy initiatives. It further demonstrates how NGOs can create parallel federation structures to support policy influence at multiple levels. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.