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| Volume IX, March 2002, Number 1 |
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| EXCERPT: The Impact of NGOs on State and Non-state Relations in the Middle East |
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| Peter Gubser |
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Dr. Gubser is president of American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA).
The purpose of this paper is to
explore the impact of non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) on international relations in the Middle East. It is organized in the following manner: First, the concepts of civil society and NGOs are defined and placed in their larger societal setting. Second, to put the later discussion in context, the actual experience of selected Middle Eastern countries with NGOs is explored. Third, the impact of NGOs on international relations today and in the future is probed from the perspective of their influence on states' policies as well as their reach across borders. The role of international NGOs is also briefly mentioned.
NGOs are important components of civil society -- formal associations of different kinds found among various social classes. More broadly, they are community, regional and national groups that bring people together for the purpose of rendering services, solving community problems, observing religious belief, cultivating social and cultural pursuits, and communicating ideas in the community, regional, national or transnational arenas. Where they exist, they serve as a place where people combine their energies to resolve problems and address issues such as health care, job creation for the poor and deprived, education and rehabilitation of the handicapped. They may also focus on respect for human rights, population and demographic issues, the environment and civil rights.
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