Neglect of non-western structures in international nongovernmental organizations

Most INGOs are organized in what can be termed a Western concept of organization. Such organizations, wherever they are based, then appear to be transplants which are not natural or meaningful in non-Western societies. As such they are easily suspect and subject to criticism, thus deterring full contact with them.

1. Although it would be valuable to make use of non-Western models of organization at the transnational level, the problem is that such models have not yet been sufficiently developed. Even regional organizations in African, Asian and Arab countries tend to be elaborations of the Western model rather than alternative models. National governmental agencies in developing countries, for example, are largely based on Western models, for lack of anything better. It is questionable whether the organizational concept used in Eastern socialist countries is sufficiently distinct from the Western model to escape such criticism. (To put matters in perspective, it is useful to look at the equivalent technological problem. The design of airplanes is governed by principles elaborated in developed countries. Whilst it would be delightful to travel in an intercontinental airplane designed in a developing country, there are none. Is this to mean that those designed in developed countries should not be used in developing countries?).

1. Obstacles to effective international nongovernmental organizations

1. Preponderance of Western-style organizations
2. Excess of western-based secretariats for international nongovernmental organizations

1. International aid paternalism

1. Reducing eurocentrism
2. Providing a platform for South-South NGO cooperation
3. Neglecting non-western structures in international nongovernmental organizations
4. Giving attention to non-western structures in international NGOs

1. Neglect