The activities of national organizations

Catherine Folkes — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 09:29:00 +0000

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Recently there has been a lot of talk – in the press, on social networks, and at rallies – about civil society and non-governmental organizations. They often refer to the situation of NGOs in the United States. In the spirit of strengthening mutual understanding between our two countries, I would like to provide information about the role of civil society organizations in the United States.
American civil society organizations have been around for a long time, in fact they predate the United States government. Settlers who came to America were self-organizing and forming nongovernmental organizations long before the United States gained its independence.

In his distinguished two-volume treatise on American life, published in 1835-1840 and entitled Democracy in America, the famous French politician Alexis de Tocqueville noted the following: “As soon as a few people in the United States come up with some idea which they wish to promote, they begin to seek each other, and as soon as they succeed in making contact with each other, they unite. From that point on they are no longer loners, but a visible force whose work is an example to others and whose words will be heard.
There are about 1.5 million community organizations in the United States today. These independent voluntary unions of people help assert individual freedom while maintaining a sustainable social order. We call it “civil society,” but that term does not capture the diversity of organizations, the momentum and energy of citizens who come together to solve a social problem or meet a pressing need. Though strangers start a movement toward a common goal, they often come from the same neighborhood, church, union, business partnership, or youth group. They interact with each other, negotiate, resolve disagreements, fight for a common cause, and try to convince society and government of their rightness – all without any control from the state. In this way, civil society cultivates unity and solidarity through the activism of citizens.
Through non-governmental organizations Americans unite to solve local problems, such as road safety for children, reducing crime, improving schools (in the U.S. local governments are responsible for education), increasing transparency in local government, etc. CBOs also work on national issues such as health care reform and immigration law reform. Some U.S. civic organizations attempt to address global issues, such as the Association for Arms Control and the Global Women’s Fund.