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Mission Impossible? Defining Nongovernmental Organizations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2026

Kerstin Martens
Kerstin Martens*
Affiliation:
Department of Political and Social Sciences, European University Institute, San Domenico di Fiesole (FI), Italy
*
2 Correspondence should be directed to Kerstin Martens, Department of Political and Social Sciences, European University Institute, Badia Fiesolana, Via dei Roccettini 9, I-50016 San Domenico di Fiesole (FI), Italy. E-mail: kerstin.martens@iue.it
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Abstract

This paper provides a synopsis of current interpretations of the term “nongovernmental organization” (NGO). Although NGOs have become recognized actors in international affairs, particularly over the last decade, it has not yet been clearly defined what the term NGO encompasses. It is argued that two major tracks of NGO interpretations can be distinguished: the juridical approach, and the sociological perspective. In juridical studies, the emphasis is placed on the legal status of NGOs in the national context and their implications for international law. Sociological works, instead, are based on studies of societal actors, and try to capture the term while examining more specifically the composition and functions of NGOs in the transnational arena. Acknowledging both tracks, the paper concludes with a comprehensive definition of the term NGO.

Résumé

Résumé

Cet article constitue un synopsis des interprétations actuelles du terme d’organisation non gouvernementale (ONG). Bien que les ONG soient devenues des protagonistes reconnus dans le monde des affaires internationales, et ce particulièrement depuis ces dix dernières années, il n’existe pas de définition de ce que recouvre le terme ONG. La discussion porte sur deux voies principales d’interprétation pouvant être distinguées: l’approche juridique et la perspective sociologique. Les études juridiques mettent l’accent sur le statut légal des ONG dans un contexte national et ayant des répercutions dans le domaine du droit international. Les travaux de sociologie, au contraire, se basent sur des études des acteurs sociaux, et essaient de capturer le terme tout en examinant de façon plus spécifique la composition et les fonctions des ONG dans la sphère transnationale. Reconnaissant ces deux pistes, l’article conclut sur une approximation détaillée de l’archétype de l’ONG.

Zusammenfassung

Zusammenfassung

Dieser Aufsatz enthält eine Zusammenfassung von gegenwärtigen Interpretationen des Begriffs Nichtregierungsorganisation (NGO). Obwohl NGOs insbesondere im letzten Jahrzehnt anerkannte Akteure in internationalen Angelegenheiten geworden sind, ist bis heute nicht eindeutig definiert worden, was der Begriff NGO umfasst. Es wird argumentiert, dass zwei Hauptrichtungen von NGOInterpretationen unterschieden werden können: der rechtliche Ansatz und die soziologische Perspektive. In juristischen Studien wird der rechtliche Status von NGOs im nationalen Kontext und seine Implikationen für das internationale Recht betont. Soziologische Arbeiten basieren stattdessen auf Studien über gesellschaftliche Akteure und versuchen, den Begriff zu erfassen, indem sie Zusammensetzung und Funktionen von NGOs in der transnationalen Arena untersuchen. Beide Richtungen bestätigend, schließt der Aufsatz mit einer umfassenden Definition des Begriffs NGO.

Resumen

Resumen

Este artículo proporciona una synopsis de las interpretaciones actuales del término organizaciones no gubernamentales. Aunque las organizaciones nogubernamentales han llegado a ser actores reconocidos en asuntos internacionales, particularmente en la última década, no se ha definido claramente lo que el termino ONG comprende. Se argumenta que se distinguen dos lineas principales de interpretación: el enfoque jurídico y la perspectiva sociológica. En los estudios jurídicos, se hace hincapié en la situación legal de las ONGs en el contexto nacional y sus repercusiones en el derecho internacional. Por otro lado, los trabajos sociológicos se basan en estudios de actores sociales que intentan definir el término al tiempo que examinan más especificamente la composición y las funciones de las ONGs en el ámbito transnacional. Reconociendo ambas lineas, el artículo concluye con una definición exhaustiva del término ONG.

Keywords

NGOsvoluntary organizationstransnational relationsinternational law

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations , Volume 13 , Issue 3 , September 2002 , pp. 271 - 285
Copyright
Copyright © 2002 International Society for Third-Sector Research and The Johns Hopkins University

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