International NGOs have grown in stature and influence in China, and are widely seen as important contributors to the development of a more dynamic Chinese society. This paper contributes to theoretical frameworks regarding how to understand the way in which INGOs are able to influence certain political outcomes in China; arguing that in both the short and long-term, INGOs have worked to mobilise society in active support of environmental protection in different parts of China. The ability to change the social structure has been important in empowering relevant institutions within the state, such as the Ministry of Environmental Protection, to respond to environmental protection issues. A greater role for such ministries represents a change in political structures around environmental protection. In doing so, this paper provides a thorough analysis of China’s society’s response to environmental protection and the political decision making processes at play when environmental issues are involved. Two case studies collected from field work, of International Rivers contribution to the anti-dam movement in the campaign against the Nujiang Dam; and Pacific Environment’s support for a local NGO opposing river pollution in Anhui province, will be utilised to support the argument that INGOs’ mobilisation of society is an important means of ‘empowering’ the state to respond positively to environmental protection issues. Such developments are taken as signs of growing social pluralisation.

This thesis demonstrates that all of the practices which define and produce the Tswana family involve dimensions of risk, conflict, and crisis – glossed as dikgang (sing. kgang) – that also threaten to undo it. Dikgang need constantly to be addressed in the right ways by the right people, in a continuously adaptive process of negotiation. Efforts to negotiate dikgang are also fraught, and often produce further problems in turn. I show that Tswana kinship is experienced, generated, and sustained in a continuous cycle of risk, conflict, and irresolution; and that it creates and thrives on crisis. In a kinship system renowned for its structural fluidity, I demonstrate that these processes chart the limits of family, and define relationships within it. I further suggest that understanding kinship in these terms provides unique insight into the effects of public health and social welfare crises – like the AIDS epidemic – which may work to strengthen Tswana families, rather than simply destroying them. However, governmental and non-governmental interventions responding to such crises operate according to different assumptions about the stability and fragility of the family, and its incapacity to cope with crisis. The thesis argues that the frustrations such interventions typically face may be traced back to divergent understandings about what constitutes and sustains family, and the role of conflict and crisis in that process. The effects of such interventions are linked to the ways in which they enable, invert, disrupt, or bypass everyday practices of kinship among the Tswana, and instantiate practices and ideals of kinship from elsewhere. I argue that holding these intervening agencies and families in the same frame illustrates suggestive links between the spheres of kinship and politics on both national and transnational levels.

Este trabalho apresenta um estudo de caso de três entidades do movimento apaeano (movimento das associações de pais e amigos dos excepcionais) do Brasil, a APAE Porto Alegre, a APAE Novo Hamburgo e a Federação das APAEs do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. O estudo procurou identificar elementos que compõem e exemplificam a atuação de organizações da sociedade civil brasileira, principalmente sua relação com o Estado, através da experiência destas entidades selecionadas. Desta forma foram analisadas, a participação das entidades em conselhos gestores, a relação de representação estabelecida com seu público-alvo e as configurações apresentadas na sua relação com o poder estatal. Estes aspectos foram sistematizados à luz de referenciais teóricos que tratam da relevância da sociedade civil para o desempenho democrático, buscando, assim, revelar os pontos onde as considerações teóricas e a realidade empírica das instituições pesquisadas se encontram. A partir desta abordagem foram identificados os espaços de atuação política das APAEs e os mecanismos utilizados na formação deste espaço, desde a incorporação de práticas comuns à outras organizações da sociedade civil, como a participação em conselhos e a representação de um público perante o Estado, até os aspectos que revelam uma estrutura de atuação tradicionalmente vinculada à filantropia. / This work presents the case study of three entities belonging to the Brazilian APAE Movement (movement of associations of parents and friends of mentally impaired people): APAE Porto Alegre, APAE Novo Hamburgo and the Federation of APAEs from the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The study tried to identify aspects that compose and exemplify the action of Brazilian civil society organizations, particularly regarding their relations with the state, by means of experience gathered with the aforementioned entities. Thus, the participation of these entities in local administrative councils was analyzed, as well as the relation established with the group of people they represent and configurations displayed in their relation with the state power. These aspects were systematized taking into account theoretical references bearing on the relevance of civil society to democratic practice, therefore trying to reveal points where theoretical considerations and the empirical reality of the researched institutions do meet. Stemming from this approach the space for APAEs political action was identified, as well as the mechanisms used in the constitution of this space: from the incorporation of practices common to other civil society organizations – like council participation and public representation to a state – to aspects that reveal a structure of action traditionally linked to philanthropy.

125 p. / Submitted by Santiago Fabio (fabio.ssantiago@hotmail.com) on 2012-12-18T16:52:35Z No. of bitstreams: 1 paulo_simoes.pdf 1111.pdf: 1033237 bytes, checksum: 0e9cde04efc7677906ced2a1e5918f19 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2012-12-18T16:52:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 paulo_simoes.pdf 1111.pdf: 1033237 bytes, checksum: 0e9cde04efc7677906ced2a1e5918f19 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / A pesquisa, do tipo estudo de caso, visa analisar como as transformações nas políticas de cooperação internacional para o desenvolvimento repercutiram na atuação da Organização Holandesa de Cooperação para o Desenvolvimento Internacional – NOVIB no Brasil a partir dos anos 1990. O caminho percorrido nesta dissertação passa pelo estudo do ideário ocidental de desenvolvimento e da cooperação internacional. Neste particular, destaca-se o aprofundamento acerca da cooperação não governamental holandesa, reunindo informações necessárias para a compreensão do seu processo de consolidação. Os resultados obtidos revelaram que a partir da década de noventa, a NOVIB tornou-se cada vez mais dependente dos recursos governamentais de cooperação, bem como se manteve alinhada às orientações de organizações internacionais, no sentido de atuar em parceria com entidades empresariais. A pesquisa revelou ainda, que a decisão da agência holandesa de retirar o apoio ao desenvolvimento do Brasil está, intrinsecamente, relacionada com a recente agenda internacional de cooperação. / Salvador

In recent years, interest in the relations between government and NGOs and the implications of these relations for service delivery in developing countries has surged. This results from the increasing role of NGOs in many facets of development, especially in service delivery and poverty reduction. However, the focus of attention especially among researchers has been on the relations between central government and NGOs. Relations between local government and NGOs have received limited research attention, especially in developing country contexts. To contribute to opening the black box created as a result of the limited research interest, this study investigates the nature, driving forces and the implications of the relations between local government and NGOs for poverty reduction programme implementation in Ghana. The study adopts a qualitative research methodology, a multi-dimensional classification regime and a New Institutional Theoretical lens to investigate the phenomena. The study was conducted adopting semi-structured interviews and mini focus ground discussions; documentary reviews; and participant observations as the key data collection tools to document the nature, driving forces and the implications of local government and NGO relations in Ghana. This study establishes that the relations between local government and NGOs in Ghana are complex but fit into a four-dimensional classification typology of superficial and suspicious cordiality; tokenistic collaboration; friendly foes; and convenient and cautious partnerships. This typology is novel as previous studies have not classified the relations in this way. Further, it finds that a complex mix of forces drive the relations but in different directions - constraining and facilitating directions - contrary to conventional arguments that institutional isomorphic forces drive organisation into homogenisation. It adds that both the positive and the negative forces can be either beneficial or detrimental for poverty reduction programme implementation. In addition, the study establishes that the relations have more diverse implications for poverty reduction programme implementation than just the economic and efficiency arguments dominant in the extant literature. The relations have implications which are social, cultural, organisational, personality and political.

O objetivo da presente pesquisa é explorar a mobilização legal de causas políticas, a partir de um estudo de caso sobre quatro entidades de defesa de direitos brasileiras: Sociedade Paraense de Direitos Humanos - SDDH , Centro de Defesa de Direitos Humanos Petrópolis – CDDH, Grupo de Assistência Jurídica às Organizações Populares – GAJOP, e Cidadania, Estudo, Pesquisa, Informação e Ação - CEPIA. Com base predominantemente no uso da metodologia qualitativa, foram analisados relatórios de atividades anuais, revistas e folhetos, produzidos pelas referidas ONGs no período que abrange 1998 até 2010. Visando explorar os distintos formatos de atuação destas entidades no processo de defesa e construção de causas políticas, foram construídas categorias analíticas, que anunciam os principais argumentos emergentes. Os argumentos mais recorrentemente mobilizados caracterizam uma tendência de ativismo por parte das agentes das entidades estudadas. Questões de gênero, diversidade racial e vulnerabilidade social são temas tratados como sendo questão de “direitos humanos”, revelando a apropriação de distintos recursos do universo jurídico e diferentes usos do direito enquanto forma estratégica de mobilização política. / The objective of the current research is to explore legal mobilization of political causes starting with a case study about four brazilian human right’s institutions: Paraense Human Rights Society – SDDH, Petrópolis Human Rights Defence Center – CDDH, Popular Organizations Legal Assistance Group – GAJOP, and Citizenship, Studies, Research, Information and Action – CEPIA. Mainly based in the use of qualitative methodology, anual activity reports, magazines and flyers produced by refered NGOs within the years 1998 to 2010 were analyzed. With the aim of studying these institutions’ distinct performance formats in the process of putting up and defending political causes. Analytical categories were built, announcing the main emerging arguments. The most recurringly mobilized arguments feature an activism tendency by agents of the researched institutions, which are within a point of view related to Law and Feminism, gender issues, racial diversity and social vulnerability as a matter of “human rights”, prioritizing the appropriation of distinct uses of Law, as well as, resources from law universe as a form of strategic political mobilization.

Este trabalho apresenta um estudo de caso de três entidades do movimento apaeano (movimento das associações de pais e amigos dos excepcionais) do Brasil, a APAE Porto Alegre, a APAE Novo Hamburgo e a Federação das APAEs do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. O estudo procurou identificar elementos que compõem e exemplificam a atuação de organizações da sociedade civil brasileira, principalmente sua relação com o Estado, através da experiência destas entidades selecionadas. Desta forma foram analisadas, a participação das entidades em conselhos gestores, a relação de representação estabelecida com seu público-alvo e as configurações apresentadas na sua relação com o poder estatal. Estes aspectos foram sistematizados à luz de referenciais teóricos que tratam da relevância da sociedade civil para o desempenho democrático, buscando, assim, revelar os pontos onde as considerações teóricas e a realidade empírica das instituições pesquisadas se encontram. A partir desta abordagem foram identificados os espaços de atuação política das APAEs e os mecanismos utilizados na formação deste espaço, desde a incorporação de práticas comuns à outras organizações da sociedade civil, como a participação em conselhos e a representação de um público perante o Estado, até os aspectos que revelam uma estrutura de atuação tradicionalmente vinculada à filantropia. / This work presents the case study of three entities belonging to the Brazilian APAE Movement (movement of associations of parents and friends of mentally impaired people): APAE Porto Alegre, APAE Novo Hamburgo and the Federation of APAEs from the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The study tried to identify aspects that compose and exemplify the action of Brazilian civil society organizations, particularly regarding their relations with the state, by means of experience gathered with the aforementioned entities. Thus, the participation of these entities in local administrative councils was analyzed, as well as the relation established with the group of people they represent and configurations displayed in their relation with the state power. These aspects were systematized taking into account theoretical references bearing on the relevance of civil society to democratic practice, therefore trying to reveal points where theoretical considerations and the empirical reality of the researched institutions do meet. Stemming from this approach the space for APAEs political action was identified, as well as the mechanisms used in the constitution of this space: from the incorporation of practices common to other civil society organizations – like council participation and public representation to a state – to aspects that reveal a structure of action traditionally linked to philanthropy.

This thesis attempts to understand the impact of international human rights and environmental NGOs on affecting domestic policy and law. In particular, it looks at how State-NGO relations, civil society, and accountability affect the success of international NGOs in enacting change in domestic policy. The focus is on four countries with some of the largest human rights and environmental abuses: Argentina, China, India, and Russia. Through these countries, this thesis shows that NGOs have the most influence when State-NGO relations are strong, civil society is active, and NGOs are accountable to both the State and citizens. A key component to the success of international NGOs is the State’s willingness to change. When a NGOs interests align with the State, NGOs are able to push for and achieve the largest results. The contrast between the success of human rights and environmental NGOs highlights this as many times States will not recognize their human rights abuses, but are willing to improve their environmental degradation. As a result, NGOs have been met with more success in advocating for change in environmental policy than human rights.

O objetivo da presente pesquisa é explorar a mobilização legal de causas políticas, a partir de um estudo de caso sobre quatro entidades de defesa de direitos brasileiras: Sociedade Paraense de Direitos Humanos - SDDH , Centro de Defesa de Direitos Humanos Petrópolis – CDDH, Grupo de Assistência Jurídica às Organizações Populares – GAJOP, e Cidadania, Estudo, Pesquisa, Informação e Ação - CEPIA. Com base predominantemente no uso da metodologia qualitativa, foram analisados relatórios de atividades anuais, revistas e folhetos, produzidos pelas referidas ONGs no período que abrange 1998 até 2010. Visando explorar os distintos formatos de atuação destas entidades no processo de defesa e construção de causas políticas, foram construídas categorias analíticas, que anunciam os principais argumentos emergentes. Os argumentos mais recorrentemente mobilizados caracterizam uma tendência de ativismo por parte das agentes das entidades estudadas. Questões de gênero, diversidade racial e vulnerabilidade social são temas tratados como sendo questão de “direitos humanos”, revelando a apropriação de distintos recursos do universo jurídico e diferentes usos do direito enquanto forma estratégica de mobilização política. / The objective of the current research is to explore legal mobilization of political causes starting with a case study about four brazilian human right’s institutions: Paraense Human Rights Society – SDDH, Petrópolis Human Rights Defence Center – CDDH, Popular Organizations Legal Assistance Group – GAJOP, and Citizenship, Studies, Research, Information and Action – CEPIA. Mainly based in the use of qualitative methodology, anual activity reports, magazines and flyers produced by refered NGOs within the years 1998 to 2010 were analyzed. With the aim of studying these institutions’ distinct performance formats in the process of putting up and defending political causes. Analytical categories were built, announcing the main emerging arguments. The most recurringly mobilized arguments feature an activism tendency by agents of the researched institutions, which are within a point of view related to Law and Feminism, gender issues, racial diversity and social vulnerability as a matter of “human rights”, prioritizing the appropriation of distinct uses of Law, as well as, resources from law universe as a form of strategic political mobilization.

Este trabalho apresenta um estudo de caso de três entidades do movimento apaeano (movimento das associações de pais e amigos dos excepcionais) do Brasil, a APAE Porto Alegre, a APAE Novo Hamburgo e a Federação das APAEs do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. O estudo procurou identificar elementos que compõem e exemplificam a atuação de organizações da sociedade civil brasileira, principalmente sua relação com o Estado, através da experiência destas entidades selecionadas. Desta forma foram analisadas, a participação das entidades em conselhos gestores, a relação de representação estabelecida com seu público-alvo e as configurações apresentadas na sua relação com o poder estatal. Estes aspectos foram sistematizados à luz de referenciais teóricos que tratam da relevância da sociedade civil para o desempenho democrático, buscando, assim, revelar os pontos onde as considerações teóricas e a realidade empírica das instituições pesquisadas se encontram. A partir desta abordagem foram identificados os espaços de atuação política das APAEs e os mecanismos utilizados na formação deste espaço, desde a incorporação de práticas comuns à outras organizações da sociedade civil, como a participação em conselhos e a representação de um público perante o Estado, até os aspectos que revelam uma estrutura de atuação tradicionalmente vinculada à filantropia. / This work presents the case study of three entities belonging to the Brazilian APAE Movement (movement of associations of parents and friends of mentally impaired people): APAE Porto Alegre, APAE Novo Hamburgo and the Federation of APAEs from the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The study tried to identify aspects that compose and exemplify the action of Brazilian civil society organizations, particularly regarding their relations with the state, by means of experience gathered with the aforementioned entities. Thus, the participation of these entities in local administrative councils was analyzed, as well as the relation established with the group of people they represent and configurations displayed in their relation with the state power. These aspects were systematized taking into account theoretical references bearing on the relevance of civil society to democratic practice, therefore trying to reveal points where theoretical considerations and the empirical reality of the researched institutions do meet. Stemming from this approach the space for APAEs political action was identified, as well as the mechanisms used in the constitution of this space: from the incorporation of practices common to other civil society organizations – like council participation and public representation to a state – to aspects that reveal a structure of action traditionally linked to philanthropy.