NGOWatch
Encyclopedia
NGOWatch initially operated between 2003 and 2007 and was relaunched in May 2009. Its stated goal is to monitor the activities of non-governmental organization
s (NGOs) and their impact on public policy. It is a sibling website of Global Governance Watch, a collaborative project of the conservative think tanks the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research
and the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies.
Under its new mandate, NGOWatch has a number of new sections, including: "In the News http://www.globalgovernancewatch.org/ngo_watch/view_archives.asp?id=1," which summarizes recent high-profile issues impacting NGOs and global governance issues, and often links directly to articles in major newspapers, magazines or other journalistic or academic sources; "Accountability and Transparency Trends http://www.globalgovernancewatch.org/ngo_watch/view_archives.asp?id=2," which provides a contextualized analysis of trends in the NGO community; and "NGO Campaign and Advocacy Alert http://www.globalgovernancewatch.org/ngo_watch/view_archives.asp?id=3, which looks at campaigns and boycotts promoted by NGOs, attempting to understand the ideological framing of the issues.
, a visiting scholar (since 2002) at the American Enterprise Institute, is the supervising editor of NGOWatch. He is an author and journalist, a columnist (since 2001) for the British-based international magazine Ethical Corporation [2] and a consultant focusing on strategic communications, sustainability, and corporate responsibility. David Peyton, a research assistant at AEI, is the program manager of NGOWatch.
criticized it as "a subtle attack on the United Nations ... and ... on civil society itself." .
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
s (NGOs) and their impact on public policy. It is a sibling website of Global Governance Watch, a collaborative project of the conservative think tanks the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research
American Enterprise Institute
The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research is a conservative think tank founded in 1943. Its stated mission is "to defend the principles and improve the institutions of American freedom and democratic capitalism—limited government, private enterprise, individual liberty and...
and the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies.
Goals
The resuscitated NGOWatch claims its "goal is to raise awareness about global governance, to monitor how international organizations influence domestic political outcomes, and to address issues of transparency and accountability within the United Nations, related intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), and other non-state actors." It positions itself not as an ideological foe of NGOs--it was founded by two NGOs--but as a resource to monitor NGO advocacy and encourage non-governmental organizations to embrace the same standards of disclosure and accountability that they demand from governments and corporations. It states: "NGOs have positioned themselves as advocates of global governance and shapers of corporate and government policy. NGOWatch monitors these monitors to encourage transparency and accountability."Under its new mandate, NGOWatch has a number of new sections, including: "In the News http://www.globalgovernancewatch.org/ngo_watch/view_archives.asp?id=1," which summarizes recent high-profile issues impacting NGOs and global governance issues, and often links directly to articles in major newspapers, magazines or other journalistic or academic sources; "Accountability and Transparency Trends http://www.globalgovernancewatch.org/ngo_watch/view_archives.asp?id=2," which provides a contextualized analysis of trends in the NGO community; and "NGO Campaign and Advocacy Alert http://www.globalgovernancewatch.org/ngo_watch/view_archives.asp?id=3, which looks at campaigns and boycotts promoted by NGOs, attempting to understand the ideological framing of the issues.
Staff
Jon EntineJon Entine
Jon Entine is an author, journalist, think tank scholar and business consultant. He is a founder/director of the Genetic Literacy Project, which is housed at STATS , where he is also a senior fellow. He has been a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research in...
, a visiting scholar (since 2002) at the American Enterprise Institute, is the supervising editor of NGOWatch. He is an author and journalist, a columnist (since 2001) for the British-based international magazine Ethical Corporation [2] and a consultant focusing on strategic communications, sustainability, and corporate responsibility. David Peyton, a research assistant at AEI, is the program manager of NGOWatch.
Criticism of Former NGOWatch (defunct as of 2007)
Before the original NGOWatch went defunct in 2007, the website Private EyePrivate Eye
Private Eye is a fortnightly British satirical and current affairs magazine, edited by Ian Hislop.Since its first publication in 1961, Private Eye has been a prominent critic and lampooner of public figures and entities that it deemed guilty of any of the sins of incompetence, inefficiency,...
criticized it as "a subtle attack on the United Nations ... and ... on civil society itself." .
Conferences Sponsored by NGOWatch/Global Governance Watch
- Science and Technology in the Balance? Food Security, Precaution, and the Pesticide Debate American Enterprise Institute, 2009-10-06.
- Corporate Responsibility in an Era of New Internationalism American Enterprise Institute, 2008-12-14.