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During the early phases of the post-Cold War “New World Order,” NGOs were touted as representing a new wave of international politics. Instead of allowing international issues to be settled in closed meetings, the people themselves, informed by intrepid citizen journalists, would from now on play the key role in setting the agenda. Like most of the promises made in the 1990s, this one also failed to deliver.

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Originally posted by SIGNYM:

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During the early phases of the post-Cold War “New World Order,” NGOs were touted as representing a new wave of international politics. Instead of allowing international issues to be settled in closed meetings, the people themselves, informed by intrepid citizen journalists, would from now on play the key role in setting the agenda. Like most of the promises made in the 1990s, this one also failed to deliver.

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At this time of year-end giving, please consider the following.

It seems to me that the permanence of the issues that NGOs supposedly seek to address speaks to either a terrible dysfunction at the NGO-level, or something worse.

NGOs were supposed to be national or supranational organizations dedicated towards resolving a specific problem. Even though many of them have been in existence for decades, the problems that they seek to resolve have remained obdurately in place.

Part of the problem is that many charities and NGOs are terribly ineffective, if not outright scams. The Susan Komen Foundation spends much of its money on "administration", fundraising (!), and "public awareness" (publicity stunts). But who would have guessed that the National Cancer Foundation is equally-ineffective? Before donating, look for weasel-words like "helped", "stood up for", and "participated in". I want to know: WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO TO WITH MY MONEY? If I can't find a real action-word in there somewhere, I'm going to recycle the request.

Also many NGOs remain obdurately fragmented. There are some issues where they should come together in sector-wide action. But the cooperation that goes on is usually between smaller organizations like Heal The Bay and Californians Against Waste, who collaborated to pass the plastic bag ban in Nov.

The other part of the problem is that the goals of the NGOs quite often refuse to touch certain "third rail" political issues, such as corporate control. Perhaps the reason for political ineffectiveness is that many organizations are at least partially funded by Soros, whose goal is to break down national sovereignty, and not necessarily to "help" people.

I have been questioning the role of NGOs for several years now. Perhaps the largest reason for the failure of NGOs to do anything other than "help" ameliorate the problems they claim is their target, (as opposed to actually solving the problem) is who sits on their various boards. I was disappointed to learn that some of my favorite charities, such as the boards of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and Nature Conservancy, are dominated by corporate interests. Despite all that, I intend to continue certain donations, but it's with my eyes wide open.

Before you donate, look at the organization's board members. If they don't represent your interests, it's unlikely that they'll spend your money for the cause that you support.

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