Product Description

Foreign aid donors believe civil society will enable people to escape the poverty trap. This volume makes a critical appraisal of this new emphasis in the aid industry and it explores the roles of Northern governmental, multilateral and non-governmental agencies.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #930532 in Books
• Published on: 1998-11-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Customer Reviews

Stimulating, thought provoking and offers a refreshing view
In a time when Civil Society has become a buzz word, one of the "in-things" in the foreign aid merry-go-round, Alison van Rooy has come with an interesting book which differs in many ways. It offers:1)a varied summary of discussions/ideas put forward by researchers on the importance and meaning of civil society, 2)a critical assessment of how these ideas are applied in foreign aid and 3) provides concrete case studies. The thesis is that aid donors, whether official or private, have a skew NW European/N American view on how the civil society is defined and how it should develop. Foreign aid, whether official or from NGOs in the North, support organisationsin the South that fit the models of a modern industrial society. Not those NGOs in the South, who have more of a traditional nature, or those who are culturally based and who tend to have a stronger suppport base in the rural areas. The expectations in the North is that it is the voluntary organisations and NGOs in the South, who are to fill the role of a weak state. The result being that many organisations are aid dependant. The development of NGOs etc. in the South, should be perceived in a historical context and that they should develop using their own strengths. The development of NGOs require a relatively strong state with a functioning judiciary to provide a level "playing field" for local NGOs to develop and expand. This is one of the conclusions.Throughout the book it is stressed that there is a strong risk that it is the donors who call the shots and the results are short-term inputs without sufficient knowledge, let alone knowledge of what the effects are. The case studies provide critical perspectives of aid and provide a valuable insight of civil society's character and the inputs of donors. In the conclusion, she shows the vast expanse between theory and the goals set by donors and what happens in reality in developing countries. But, constructive advice is given in how aid can be improved with a greater understanding of the political and cultural environment in every country.