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2 - The emergence of NGOs in the context of business–government–societal relationships

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 January 2010

Michael Yaziji  and
Jonathan Doh
Michael Yaziji
Affiliation:
IMD, Lausanne
Jonathan Doh
Affiliation:
Villanova University, Pennsylvania
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Summary

How are we to understand the increasing frequency and impact of interactions between NGOs and corporations? In this chapter, we will investigate the conditions that have favored the significant rise in the number, power and societal influence of NGOs – with a particular focus on advocacy NGOs – in the past two decades. The focus of this chapter will be on the contextual drivers of the rise of the NGO rather than the more motivation-focused approach discussed by others.

NGOs constitute an important and influential set of actors within the broad context of business and society. NGOs have emerged as critical organizations in shaping governmental policy and practice, influencing legal and institutional structures and affecting corporate and business activities. Although NGOs or their equivalents have been part of human societies for centuries, in recent decades, NGOs have grown in number, power and influence. Their force has been felt in a range of major public policy debates, and NGO activism has been responsible for major changes in public policy, law and regulation, and in reforming corporate behavior and governance.

The worldwide NGO presence

Estimates of the number of NGOs vary widely, although almost all analysts agree that the number is dramatically increasing. In 1993, the United Nations Development Program identified 50,000 NGOs worldwide, while the Union of International Associations identified 52,000 such groups worldwide.

Type
Chapter
Information
NGOs and Corporations
Conflict and Collaboration
 , pp. 15 - 32
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2009

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