Ngo continuum : an evaluation of the nature and activities of non-governmental organizations

Abstract EN

As globalization and international trade impact societies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have become increasingly influential in world affairs.

They are consulted by governments as well as international organizations like the United Nations which have created associative status for them.

In this paper, NGOs are identified in terms of their historical evolution, strategies, fields of operation, legitimacy, and relations with government, through a conceptual framework called "NGO Continuum".

NGO Continuum has two axes: organizational (horizontal "X") and spatial (vertical "Y").

organizations located on the horizontal axis are arranged on a scale from fully NGOs, semi NGOs, semi governmental organization to fully governmental organizations.

Organizations located on the vertical axis are arranged on a scale from local, provincial, national and regional to international.

Organizations on the left side of the vertical axis are defined as non-governmental organizations, while those on the right side of the vertical are defined as governmental organizations.

Organizations below the horizontal axis have two quadrants; (-,-) and (+,-).

The former quadrant is characterized by having community and grassroots relevance, whereas the latter is characterized by developing the legislative framework within which the former operates.

Organizations above the horizontal axis have two quadrants (-,+) and (+,+).

Both quadrants are concerned with strategy and policy orientation of global relevance.