The Impact of Non-Governmental Organizations on the International Sector

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The Impact of Non-Governmental Organizations on the International Sector Sanjay O. Williams Special Issues Professor Anne Genin Due Date: December 7, 2009 Williams 1 INTRODUCTION When it comes to analyzing the international system and understanding the key players that contribute in making this system function, NGO’s (non-governmental organizations) play a huge part in many schemes, many of which can be seen as they are played out in the economic, social, and political arenas around the world. Though the births of NGO’s are a fairly recent concept within international relations, the clout and pull that these organizations possess are extremely influential. These organizations tend to be made up of legal or natural people that have no representation or governmental affiliation. Though these organizations may get some funding partially or fully from governmental sectors they continue to remain fully unattached from the government by the exclusion of governmental representation. Though “NGO” is not a legal definition, they may also be referred to as a “civil society” organization 1. Internationally the number of NGOs operating on an international basis is likely to currently exceed 40,000 2. Despite the dawn of the UN (United Nations) based NGOs, the degree in which they have been effective and cooperative within the 21st century has varied greatly as the agendas differ from organization to organization. CONTEXT Williams 2 The history of NGOs goes back as far as 1839 3. The Rotary International, which was founded in 1904, was an organization much like NGOs that sought out to resolve certain issues around the world that included humanitarian efforts and preservation of peace and goodwill within the international system. Historical documentation concluded that there were at

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