International NGOs: Missionaries or Imperialists?

Abstract

Two strands have run through much of the discussion in the previous chapters. On the one hand, there is the depiction of NGOs as idealistic groups, fighting for the needs of the poor, the disadvantaged and even the planet as a whole; and pursuing causes which politicians either neglect or wilfully obstruct. On the other, there is a global order in which decision-making frequently reflects the interests of Western governments and businesses, and possibly African politicians and elites who have struck deals with these interests, while the poor, the disadvantaged and the planet continue to suffer exploitation. Overlapping these worlds of civil society politics and power politics lie international NGOs (INGOs). In this chapter we consider some of the arguments about the ability or willingness of INGOs to seize the initiative and tilt the balance of power in favour of what they might regard as a more just social order; and consider the contrary argument about the extent to which INGOs are either reluctant or willing collaborators in consolidating the existing distribution of power.