Potential Of Non-governmental Organizations Research Articles

Громадянське суспільство в Україні: до питання про політичну інституціоналізацію.

Revolution of Dignity has caused ascension of civil society in Ukraine. During first years of post-revolutionary period civil organizations executed functions of the state which was extremely weakened under economic crisis and military intervention. But after the restoration of state institutions functioning, decline of civil activity has been revealed. Officials and politicians resort to pressure and discrimination against civic activists. Despite persecution of anti-corruption civic activists and increasing role of marginal organizations which are supported by the state, civil society develops and becomes more influential actor.After the Revolution of Dignity civic activity is aimed first of all at supporting the momentum of political reforms and the fight against corruption. This objective provokes lively interest from international partners of Ukraine, who consider success in the noted sphere as vital for the stability, democratization and economic development of the country. It is civic activity which plays a crucial role in overcoming corruption in Ukraine.Despite the formal support of the National Civil Society Development Strategy, the government has introduced new legislative measures that require anti-corruption organizations to provide additional information in their tax reporting. This may be seen as a mechanism for further pressure on civil society. Representatives of civil society are under pressure not only at the national, but regional level, and this creates additional risks. Despite the fact that the process of decentralization continues and decision-making powers are delegated to the local level, the capacity of local civil society remains rather small. There is a big gap between the potential of non-governmental organizations at the national and local levels. The small number of active civil society groups in the countryside and limited mechanisms for involving citizens into local governance leave open the question of the ability of civil society to be actively engaged in community development and control of power.

Ecotourism development in China: prospects for expanded roles for non-governmental organisations

China's flourishing economy is contributing to rapid development throughout the country, but prosperity is not evenly distributed and rural communities are experiencing social and ecological problems. Ecotourism has potential to foster both local economic development and environmental conservation. Capacity to promote and deliver ecotourism services is, however, poorly developed at present, particularly at the level of rural communities. We assess such capacity through an institutional analysis, focusing on interactions among public agencies, businesses, and civil society actors. Specifically, we study the roles and potential of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as an emerging class of development actors within China's civil society. We present a case study of an ecotourism demonstration project in the Laojunshan area of northwestern Yunnan Province in western China. A review of project documents and field interviews supported analysis of Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats that the relevant actors perceive as constraining and enabling the ecotourism enterprise. NGOs served unique coordination functions across institutional sectors and mobilised critical resources for conservation and development. Recommendations for NGOs engaged in ecotourism in China include investment in training programmes with local people and community-based organisations, facilitating collaborations between businesses and communities, working directly with businesses, and promoting cooperatives.

Green partnerships in Britain's energy sector – classifying non-governmental organisations and exploring their varying potential to co-operate with energy companies

Why do some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) use partnerships with the corporate sector as a tool to achieve their environmental objectives whilst others do not? The potential of NGOs to enter into partnerships depends on their organisational resources and structures, their values, ideas and attitudes. This hypothesis is explored in the case of Britain's NGOs and their potential for engagement with the energy industry. Empirical data on the characteristics of NGOs and their attitudes towards partnerships and existing engagement with business were collected through a questionnaire-based survey and semi-structured interviews. Three clusters of NGOs were identified and linked to different patterns of engagement. The findings are relevant for critically reviewing claims that NGO-business-partnerships offer effective solutions to environmental problems, have the potential to substitute for governmental regulation and may contribute to accomplishing a more sustainable society.