| I am analyzing a Malaysian women's non-governmental organization (NGO) that is dependent on state funding. I have reviewed literature by Alvarez, Sharma, and Richard, and like these authors I am not comfortable describing the state-NGO relationship between Sarawak Women for Women Society and the Malaysian government as "co-opted" because it appears the NGO has acquired leverage to negotiate agency within the semi-authoritative state. Characterizing the relationship as an "intermediary" does not seem to fit either. The modernizing state embraces the United Nations Development Program's Millennial Development Goals on gender equality. In addition, the state has its own development discourse and individual relationships with NGOs, which results in NGOs financially supported by the state and lacking independent relationships with international agencies and donors. In my analysis, I will argue the state-NGO relationship is commensalist. |
