NHROI

NGOs have been defined, their diversity noted, their growth remarked upon. Two sets of factors have been considered which together can help to explain why NGOs have more or less influence on environmental policies. First, there are structural constraints and opportunities within which NGOs act, e.g. the particular environmental issue concerned, the target organisations and policy networks confronted, the nature of the political structure in which an NGO finds itself. Second, there are various actions an NGO engages in, with criteria for assessing their effectiveness, including political expertise, scientific and professional expertise, use of the media, political support and complementarity of NGOs working together in coalitions, alliances and networks.

All that may appear reasonably straightforward. However, various difficulties are involved in reaching an unambiguous assessment of NGO influence. Reasons for this include the absence of clear objective measures of influence, the problem of mistaking correlation for causation, competing theoretical explanations of NGO influence, explanations used in the North not working in the South and unusual features of the world of environmental NGOs that can affect an assessment of influence, e.g. time lags, special characteristics of environmental problems, transnational links between NGOs. In short, assessments of NGO influence on environmental policies require making informed judgements based on incomplete evidence, bearing in mind the unusual complexities involved.

All that may appear reasonably straightforward. However, various difficulties are involved in reaching an unambiguous assessment of NGO influence. Reasons for this include the absence of clear objective measures of influence, the problem of mistaking correlation for causation, competing theoretical explanations of NGO influence, explanations used in the North not working in the South and unusual features of the world of environmental NGOs that can affect an assessment of influence, e.g. time lags, special characteristics of environmental problems, transnational links between NGOs. In short, assessments of NGO influence on environmental policies require making informed judgements based on incomplete evidence, bearing in mind the unusual complexities involved.All that may appear reasonably straightforward. However, various difficulties are involved in reaching an unambiguous assessment of NGO influence. Reasons for this include the absence of clear objective measures of influence, the problem of mistaking correlation for causation, competing theoretical explanations of NGO influence, explanations used in the North not working in the South and unusual features of the world of environmental NGOs that can affect an assessment of influence, e.g. time lags, special characteristics of environmental problems, transnational links between NGOs. In short, assessments of NGO influence on environmental policies require making informed judgements based on incomplete evidence, bearing in mind the unusual complexities involved.