Do international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) matter? When do they influence human security? This book offers a comprehensive framework for understanding the effects of international non-governmental organizations (international NGOs or INGOs) on a variety of human rights and development outcomes. According to much of the extant International Relations literature, INGOs are assumed to be purely principled or altruistic actors, existing only to solve the world’s problems. This is a strong assumption, as many in International Relations assume that all actors are self-interested and str ... More

Do international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) matter? When do they influence human security? This book offers a comprehensive framework for understanding the effects of international non-governmental organizations (international NGOs or INGOs) on a variety of human rights and development outcomes. According to much of the extant International Relations literature, INGOs are assumed to be purely principled or altruistic actors, existing only to solve the world’s problems. This is a strong assumption, as many in International Relations assume that all actors are self-interested and strategic. This book extends the canonical theoretical literature on INGOs by relaxing the oft-assumption that all INGOs are motivated with shared values or principles. The book then investigates how the existence of the presence of INGOs with multiple motivations complicates the interactions of INGOs with both sub-state and international actors and, thus, influences the sector’s ability to actually influence human security at the ground level. The findings of this project highlight both the power and the shortcomings of INGOs, implying that a realistic look at the potential and motivations of INGOs is necessary for improvements in human rights and development. The book concludes with policy recommendations for aid foundations, donor governments, and target or host governments, as well as providing policy recommendations for INGOs themselves.