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contribute to the process of democracy building by empowering populations or engaging in direct
lobbying of the government.
Understanding the role of NGOs in democratization, and more specifically in activism, has
important policy implications. If we discover, for example, that large membership base is necessary
to make NGOs strong political players capable of engaging in dialogues with authorities at both
local and national level, then this challenges us to think more about how such actors can earn the
trust of local populations and convince them to join the organization in a climate where political
and economic instability might hinder an effort to do so.
In developing our argument we proceed in the following manner. First, we present a brief
review of present studies on NGOs and democratization. We then sketch the theoretical link
between NGOs and democratization by focusing on membership base as the critical structural
component that enables the emergence of active political engagement. Next, we explain our
research design. Finally, we present four case studies that address previously outlined hypotheses.
We conclude with a discussion of main findings.
Previous Studies
Research on NGOs and democratization has focused extensively on understanding the
impact of NGOs on fostering economic reforms in states undergoing transitions. More specifically,
NGOs have been seen as integral in development by promoting innovative activities and providing
technology and skills to the population. At the local level, they have allegedly alleviated poverty
and helped communities adjust to modernization especially in developing countries (for example:
Annis 1988, Ehigiamusoe 1998, Gerson 2001, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa,
Korten 1990). Yet there is a wide variation among NGOs in terms of success. Their efforts have
Convention