Why are NGOs important?

In an anarchic global system, competing claims are often made by individuals and political theorists who support different theoretical perspectives. Those who tend to associate themselves with the theory of realism believe that there is no entity greater than the state itself, for it is the main actor, the sovereignty of which must be protected. It is the state which has the undisputed authority to serve its own national interests and make rational decisions. These individuals, known as realists, tend to disregard the prominence and role of non-state actors that are composed of entities such as non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

These views are opposed by liberals who tend to place greater emphasis on the importance of entities outside of the realm of the state itself, granting them a certain degree of legitimacy while consequently looking to build a cooperative world order. Having established a clear sense of perspective, it is imperative to examine, very specifically, why NGOs are important and whether their significance has evolved with the changing nature of global politics.

To begin with, as supported by liberals, NGOs are organizations independent of the government that act as pressure groups to support the well-being of local communities and society in general. Their importance can be classified by their ability to ensure that governments do not misuse their power, make the public aware of issues affecting them, and act as a medium to make the public’s voice heard to the government and other entities. On a global level, NGOs have gained prominence through their advocacy of human rights, environmental issues, and peace.

The International Committee of the Red Cross was founded by a certain individual named Henri Dunant whose campaigning book, ‘A Souvenir of Solferino,’ eventually led to the establishment of international humanitarian law through the adoption of the First Geneva Convention in 1864. In a more recent context, Red Cross provided shelter and relief items to individuals across the United States when wildfires raged across Washington, Oregon, and California. It has also played a vital role during the pandemic, collaborating with the food and drug administration amongst other partners to collect convalescent plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients to treat individuals impacted more severely by it. This portrays how NGOs play a vital role in ensuring the well-being of society, even if their effect, at times, may be limited to particular communities only.

On 9th November 2021, Greenpeace Germany filed a lawsuit against Volkswagen after its reluctance to phase out all of its internal combustion vehicles at the earliest and refusal to speed up its reduction of CO2 emissions. This instance portrays the importance of NGOs such as Greenpeace when it comes to taking action against corporations who refuse to adopt environmentally conscious ways of operating that affect the well-being of society as a whole.

To conclude, it is fair to say that while the importance of NGOs may be questioned by specific sections of society, the aforementioned examples clearly depict their importance in terms of contributing to the well-being of society by maintaining strict regulations and acting as pressure groups.

• Platform, European Liberties. “Here’s Why Ngos Are Vital to Democracy.” Liberties.eu, www.liberties.eu/en/stories/ngo-why-they-are-needed-accountability-democracy-civil- organisation/11727.
• Tortajada, Cecilia. “Nongovernmental Organizations and Influence on Global Public Policy.” Wiley Online Library, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 11 June 2016, onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/app5.134.
• International Committee of the Red Cross. “Founding and Early Years of the ICRC (1863–1914).” International Committee of the Red Cross, 30 Nov. 2020, www.icrc.org/en/document/founding- and-early-years-icrc-1863–1914.
• “Significant Dates in History.” Significant Dates in Red Cross History | American Red Cross, www.redcross.org/about-us/who-we-are/history/significant-dates.html.
• Greenpeace International. “Greenpeace Sues Volkswagen for Fuelling the Climate Crisis and Violating Future Freedom and Property Rights.” Greenpeace International, www.greenpeace.org/international/press-release/50625/greenpeace-sues-volkswagen-for-fuelling-the- climate-crisis-and-violating-future-freedom-and-property-rights/.