Challenges of foreign NGOs a comparative study

Abstract

Foreign NGOs are major players in international arena today. They are also an inherent part of development and democratisation processes that are taking place within countries they operate. Currently NGOs are increasingly gaining more power and influence due to which they have become subjects of intensifying debates both on global and domestic levels. Some countries have started to recognize the challenges that foreign NGOs bring with them. These challenges have become especially prominent after ‘coloured revolutions’ that have recently been taking place in post-soviet countries. After these events a certain trend of restricting foreign NGO activities has been observed in a number of countries worldwide. Foreign NGOs also operate and implement programs in Armenia bringing forward important changes both on the state and societal levels. Thus given the current challenges and trends observed worldwide it is imperative to recognize the extent to which these challenges are true for Armenia. This is the main purpose of current research. In pursuing this aim the current study examines the challenges identified by different countries with a particular focus on post-soviet states as well as measures taken by these countries to address those challenges. Finally, in the comparative perspective both identified challenges and measures applied by other countries are compared with Armenian reality. The identified challenges based on worldwide experience will give a better and wider picture of foreign NGOs functioning in Armenia and will serve a useful tool for policymakers in the field.