Non-government development organisations and the grassroots in Peru

Abstract

This paper examines the long-term grassroots empowerment strategies endorsed by non-governmental development organisations (NGDOs) in Lima, Peru and their application in concrete development programmes. An examination of NGDO literature and projects permits the synthesis of three ideal-typical empowerment strategies (Neo-Marxist, Neo-Anarchist, Coalition-Building). These strategies are described and compared, especially with respect to their diverging conceptions on processes of "bottom-up' development, the characterisation of grassroots mobilisation and the role of the state and political parties. These differences, however, tend to be compromised once actual advocacy work with the grassroots is contemplated, when development projects have to deal with the micro-mobilisation patterns of the poor and the political conjuncture. Several interpretations of the contradiction between idealtypical strategies and actual advocacy tactics are discussed, concluding that such contradictions are inherent to any political process based on grassroots empowerment and a "bottom-up' agenda.In the ast fifteen years, strategies of grassroots empowerment have been gaining ground among development aid theories. Shunning previous interpretations that'emphasised market mechanisms or state intervention as key determinants of socio-economic development, empowerment strategists consider that grassroots participation and m0bilisation is the basis for a just and equal development process. Empowerment entails expanding the grassroots' capacity to participate in the design of social policy and, as a result, in enhancing their control over their life destinies. Through the organised and collective effort of

Toward a Typology of Critical Nonprofit Studies: A Literature Review

“…Rather than taking civil society as an “unequivocal good,” such scholarship concerns itself with the material and discursive constraints of civil society for addressing gender-based insecurity (McDuie-Ra, 2007) and international development (Ebrahim, 2001), and how nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have challenged if not overcome these constraints, not least through appropriation of dominant discourses to serve their own ends. These articles inextricably link discourse with action in the form of grassroots mobilization, advocacy, and organizing strategies (Diaz-Albertini, 1991; Roca, 2007).…”

Understanding the Role of Outsiders in Community-Based Development Interventions: A Framework with Findings from Iran

“…Despite the three similar roles of outsiders in CBD interventions, different activities may be fulfilled under each role corresponding to different strategies of intervention and ideal-types (Díaz-Albertini, 1991). They may differ with regard to their legal organization status, financial structure, sectoral focus, and the functions they carry out (Fifka et al, 2016).…”

Promoting Development in Weak Institutional Environments: The Understanding and Transmission of Sustainability by NGOS in Latin America

“…Meyer (1999) has provided a general work on the nature and operations of NGOs in the region, while Fisher (1993) as well as Salamon and Anheier (1997) have researched NGOs in the developing world overall, including Latin America. Other studies have looked at sustainability-related issues such as the role of Latin American NGOs in philanthropy (Flórez 1997;Goncebate 1995;Landim 1997;Landim and Thompson 1997), in democracy promotion and political participation (Aquino Alves 2014; Díaz-Albertini 1991;Hoogesteger 2015), and in women's and indigenous rights (Jaquette 2013;van Dam 2011). Thus, Hevia (2013) has recently noted that there is a lack of quantitative research on third sector organizations in Latin America.…”