Gonez Interview with Carlos Gil, author of
"NGOs and globalization" José Luis Palacios
Workers News
Carlos Gómez Gil, "activist and social scientist, has just published a necessary book, entitled" The NGOs in globalization " in trying to find out whether these entities are responding to globalization unfair or one element of the expansion of neoliberalism, though many fight and work against the process and its consequences. With the rigor of scientific and critical attitude of a fighter, analyzes the role of NGOs from the beginning until now, its possibilities and shortcomings, and the principles that should never give up.
- Why NGOs arise and what factors have historically influenced the quantitative and qualitative increase after the end of the Cold War?
-NGOs also blunt the era of globalization as one of its key players that emerge due to the weakness of nation-states and the emergence of new dimensions of social intervention as a result of the need to repair the damage to society caused by a market economy with very specific rules in the service of capital, such as that sits today. However, in Europe, its appearance has other previous profiles far more complex, related to the historic evolution of our continent: the disaster of the world wars and destruction, colonialism and post colonialism, the advance of Keynesianism, interventionism social, search and defense of new social ideals, economic and industrial changes also marked the emergence of NGOs in Europe, unlike what happened in Spain.
- Is there a big gap between the idyllic image that the public has of NGOs and their reality?
"Without any doubt. On the one hand, it has built a social imaginary full of truths, but selfishly used by a growing number of institutions seeking to capitalize and monetize all that social capital, making economic and political capital in the spurious sense of the term I truly remarkable is that from multinational companies, from multinational institutions and parties is strongly undermine the principles essential that feed the NGO, and in front of them, trying to survive hard-driven organizations by people with fewer resources struggle to keep alive the ideals of solidarity, fraternity and transformation that should push these organizations, and they are Utopia maintaining changes represented NGOs.
- When we talk about NGOs, what kinds of entities we mean, how could classify them so that differentiate those that actually defend the solidarity and justice of those only are utility companies more or less disguised or are subordinated to other interests unmentionable?
"That's one of the most striking analytical elements: paradoxically, have been the most powerful multilateral institutions who have devoted more effort to define and model for NGOs. And it was not accidental but was part of an attempt to bring these organizations to their policies, and use them instrumentally to endorse and facilitate the penetration of her most answered. There is the example of World Bank or IMF, and even the recent history of the WTO in this regard. It is clear that the ability of critical and alternative generation are capital items for these organizations together to work as transparent as democratic. From these basic principles, you can develop many others, but only to see who and how to follow these issues can have a clear idea of \u200b\u200bhow is the patio.
- Is there a way to overcome the idea more or less accepted that criticism to an NGO or an aspect of which is to carry skepticism to people of good faith may think that ultimately everyone is equal and can not be changed nothing?
"I have a feeling that only those interested in maintaining reprehensible attitudes and performances can sustain arguments of this nature. The ability of a rabid criticism, internally and externally, must be an absolutely essential factor for any NGOs seeking to intervene in areas of exclusion, marginalization, exclusion and inequality as they do normally, and that the opposite is really trying to anesthetize the company to maintain its role of subsidiary entities serving public and private institutions. NGOs are the first interested in creating a much needed debate as essential, in other countries have already begun to raise and that in Spain, later or earlier will have to arise.
- Do you miss missing in English NGOs less complacent, less corporatism and more cooperation between them, less patronage and more complaints and mobilization efforts social? If so, what do you think that is? -
"The situation of NGOs in Spain is extremely particular and wander through territory much more complex than they imagine themselves. His weakness, his extreme economic dependence and functional organizational fragility, fragmentation and atomization, the process by which hegemony is betting this and other governments are some of the many symptoms of oenegeización model that has no health many will assume. The English model is moving towards a process of concentration (economic, resources, programs and campaigns) increasingly powerful in a very small group of NGOs, which are being used so that our governments (and some companies) to clean his conscience and also many other things. This analysis deserves a calm and peaceful by all NGOs, but I fear that we act more from corporatist false positions, which has the capacity to know the patient's health and needs.
- kindly see the collaboration between NGOs and multilateral agencies dominated by multinationals or governments markedly neoliberal?, What positive effects could be achieved and under what conditions?
"My research shows that these institutions are using a so interested NGOs simply to facilitate the advancement of ultra-liberal policies and to allow their entry into countries and populations where they are highly answered. I do not think there is space now to work together and respect because they are not the criteria from which to work in these institutions in towns and communities. Interestingly, it has been far more critical the work of opposition to trade liberalization processes that have made NGOs in the past five years, all the work done throughout the history of these organizations in the World Bank, to give an example.
- Would you dare to respond directly to the question of whether NGOs have become transforming elements of the world or simply are mere patches on the wounds created by economic neoliberalism, when not just means to accelerate capitalist globalization?
"If we want to be rigorous we must note that there is everything. On the one hand, we will not deny that more and more NGOs are merely organizations of opportunity created a row of the processes of liberalization and privatization lived wild in recent decades, dedicated to manage the debris precarious social policy, welfare, or aid in any areas. Alongside them, there are recently many shamelessly created by multinational companies, aware that they can and better manage their interests and better return on investment, not to mention those other areas of business and fundraising that have accepted the language, codes and categories of the most voracious capitalism. But also with all other organizations are working from different criteria, trying to create new spaces of solidarity, social transformation, critical to so many injustices, advocacy and vulnerable people. And all they do in an environment increasingly hostile, less and less media, being disliked by many other NGOs to "official" haunted with themselves to be so powerful and have many resources.
"If as you say there can be no healthy organizations in a sick society, what opportunities and challenges for NGOs, how could be achieved not only damaged organs in a sick body?
"Indeed, this argument that I hold in my study is to point out something opposed to what has been hearing from some NGO leaders, trying to explain that they are an army of new gladiators full of virtue and goodness, well above the rest of society. In my opinion (and from my experience) in NGOs are the same as in society, because society is nurtured same, and I have met wonderful people and real crooks, with the aggravating circumstance that cover behind the values \u200b\u200band feelings built up over decades by people who thought it was wonderful to work for a world, a society and a different neighborhood. No one can be alarmed that a bank will work with the toughest criteria capitalist economic system, but it would not surprise us that some NGOs are working from criteria much more ruthless, competitive and cruel, in the name of solidarity as unique as perverted. We should think what is happening in the NGO world when these things happen openly.
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