Research NGO Influence In International Organizations

Since the end of World War II, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) haveexperienced an unprecedented development. They participate extensively in the activitiesof various international organizations, influence the international agenda-setting anddecision-making results, and become an important force in the international community.Although since the1990s Chinese scholars have conducted extensive research on NGOs,there is little progress in the aspects of studies on NGOs’ influence in internationalorganizations.The research questions of this paper are as follows: To what extent can NGOsinfluence decision-making of an international organization? How can we cognize theextent of NGOs’ influence in the international organization? What factors can explainchanges of NGOs’ influence in different international organizations? This paper attemptsto distinguish between different levels of NGOs’ influence in an international organization,and to explore the key variables which determine NGOs’ influence in an internationalorganization. The key point of the paper is that type of international organization andmatching degree on issues are two key variables determining NGOs’ influence in aninternational organization.The research method of the paper combines theoretical assumptions and empiricaldemonstration. First, the paper describes theory and theoretical assumptions, discussesevaluation criteria of NGOs’ influence, and proposes factors that can explain changes ofthe influence. Then, the paper presents a theoretical expectation based on the theoreticalassumptions, proves the theoretical expectations through case studies, and demonstratesthe validity of the theory.In order to demonstrate the key point, the paper uses a measurement system whichincludes six indicators to assess NGOs’ influence in an international organization. The sixindicators respectively correspond to six levels of NGOs’ influence. Indicator one (I1)shows the resources invested in NGO affairs by an international organization. Indicatortwo (I2) means the international organization consults with NGOs for their advices.Indicator three (I3) means the international organization may change its decisionaccording to the NGO’s comments or suggestion. Indicator four (I4) means theinternational organization review the influence caused by NGOs’ participation. Indicatorfive (I5) means the international organization admits the political legitimacy of NGOs. Indicator six (I6) means NGOs can decide policy direction of the internationalorganization.The paper presents two key variables which determine NGOs’ influence in aninternational organization, and establishes a2×2model on this basis. The paper arguesthat type of international organization and matching degree on issues are the key variablesdetermining NGOs’ influence in an international organization. While the internationalorganization is more similar to ideal service organizations, and the matching degree onissues between NGOs and the international organization is higher, the NGOs’ influence inthe international organization is greater. On the contrary, while the internationalorganization is more similar to ideal forum organizations, and the matching degree onissues is lower, the NGOs’ influence is less.2×2model divides all situations into fourtypes: service organization with a high matching degree, service organization with a lowmatching degree, forum organization with a high matching degree, and forumorganization with a low matching degree. The World Bank (WB) compliances with thesituation of service organization with high matching degree, while the World TradeOrganization (WTO) is in line with the condition of forum organization with a lowmatching degree. According to the theory of this paper, NGOs’ influence in the WB willbe greater than their influence in the WTO.Finally, the paper demonstrates the validity of the explanatory factors and the2×2model by analyzing the case of NGOs’ participation in the WB and the WTO. The casestudy shows that NGOs’ influence in the WB is greater than their influence in the WTO.In the World Bank, NGOs can directly engage in the implementation phase of the WorldBank-financed projects; their advices are seriously considered; the IndependentEvaluation Group puts some attention on NGO affairs; and recent developments showNGOs has gained the power to participate in decision-making in some marginal part ofthe WB. However, the World Trade Organization is merely positioning the role of NGOsin improving the transparency of the organization: almost all mechanisms on NGOs’participation in the WTO are designed to display the WTO’s activities, agendas andnegotiations to the public; WTO does not establish a formal consultation mechanism forNGOs, while the only channels for NGO to propose are also weak.