Recently, the influence of non-state actors on resolving issues of international importance has gradually increased. Their role in conducting diplomacy with other state actors has become more powerful than ever. Being politically independent, NGOs may get involved in any matter they wish and introduce their own solutions. This fact makes NGOs’ diplomacy much easier and simply unlimited.
I would like to give an example of an environmental case where the contribution of non-state actors was of a great importance. Unquestionably, their work proved to be efficient enough to make the world hear about the problem. It is the bottom trawling issue that I am going to mention. This practice caused huge destruction to the marine biological life. In 2004, the United Nations General Assembly launched an Informal Working Group (Nao Iwamura 2009;49) to discuss the problem and look for any possible solutions. There were many actors participating. Among governmental representatives , UN agencies and fishing industry’s delegates, various NGOs were involved, as well. The non-state actors were strongly opting for implementing a ban on trawling on high sea bottom. In order to strengthen their position and make their arguments more persuasive, they set up the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition in 2004. The idea was supported by several NGOs: Conservation International, Greenpeace international, World Conservation, The Marine Conservation Biology Institute, the Natural resources Defense Council, The New England Aquarium and many many more (BBC News, 6th Oct. 2004). The biggest success of the mentioned Coalition was that it enormously persuaded the UN to proclaim a global moratorium on bottom trawling. Some NGOs were really engaged into implementing the commitments stated in the moratorium. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural resources were given the Permanent Observer status from the UNGA. They tried to take some legal actions and publicly disapproved of numerous states’ behavior. It was in the wake of lack of obedience from some countries towards the new moratorium. Unfortunately the 2004 resolution is the only document that NGOs may refer to when pushing for any major revision in member states’ policies.
Presenting the above case I intended to demonstrate that today, NGOs are recognized as equal members of dynamic political negotiations and take active role in conducting diplomacy. They promote diverse issues and very often have a grand impact on the pace of implementing any amendments and declaring resolutions . Their great influence and dominant position, unquestionably, results from financial support, having many international agencies and no political ties. These allow them to act independently using diverse methods and adopt preferred attitudes.
You make a very good case and provide a good example of the success of non-state actors.
ReplyDeleteId like to note that not all non-state actors provide a positive affect within the international community. For example, in economic terms, major trans-national and multinational corporations influence political agendas in other areas of international policy.