Seven case studies, presented by Mendelson (international politics, Tufts U.) and Glenn (executive director, Council for European Studies), explore the strategies and impacts of international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) attempting to promote their conceptions of civil society in the post-communist transition countries of Europe and Central Asia. The contributors were asked to apply the same methodologies to their studies, gauging the effectiveness of NGOs by looking at the emergence of new local organizations, the professional development of activists and organizations, national and international networking, the ability to affect public awareness, and the ability to push new legislation. The case studies come from Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Russia, the Slovak Republic, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
This important book is among the few attempts to assess the impact of the efforts of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to build democratic institutions. The case studies presented here provide a portrait of the mechanisms by which ideas commonly associated with democratic states have evolved in formerly communist states, revealing conditions that help as well as hurt the process.
Since the end of the Cold War, a virtual army of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) from the United States, Britain, Germany, and elsewhere in Europe have flocked to Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia. These NGOs are working on such diverse tasks as helping to establish competitive political parties, elections, and independent media, as well as trying to reduce ethnic conflict.
This important book is among the few efforts to assess the impact of these international efforts to build democratic institutions. The case studies presented here provide a portrait of the mechanisms by which ideas commonly associated with democratic states have evolved in formerly communist states, revealing conditions that help as well as hurt the process.
