The Power and Limits of NGOs

This important book is among the few attempts to assess the impact of the efforts of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to build democratic institutions. The case studies presented here provide a portrait of the mechanisms by which ideas commonly associated with democratic states have evolved in formerly communist states, revealing conditions that help as well as hurt the process.

Since the end of the Cold War, a virtual army of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) from the United States, Britain, Germany, and elsewhere in Europe have flocked to Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia. These NGOs are working on such diverse tasks as helping to establish competitive political parties, elections, and independent media, as well as trying to reduce ethnic conflict.

This important book is among the few efforts to assess the impact of these international efforts to build democratic institutions. The case studies presented here provide a portrait of the mechanisms by which ideas commonly associated with democratic states have evolved in formerly communist states, revealing conditions that help as well as hurt the process.

Sarah E. Mendelson is a senior fellow with the Center for Strategic & International Studies Russia and Eurasia Program. She lives in Washington, DC. John K. Glenn is the executive director of the Council for European Studies at Columbia University.

Marc Morje Howard:
The Power and Limits of NGOs presents a serious, rigorous, and balanced analysis of the democracy assistance programs in post-communist Eurasia, and its findings and implications will have broad and long-lasting academic and policy relevance.

Valerie Sperling:
A well-written and important book... Given the volume's presentation of extensive empirical data and thoughtful analysis grounded in scholarly literature, this book should be enthusiastically welcomed by policy-makers and the members of the NGO community hoping to spread democracy.

Paul Kubicek:
By pointing to successesand failures of external democratization assistance, the editors have compiled a volume that should become essential reading for those in the scholarly, governmental, and NGO communities... One hopes that this book gains an audience that will influence not only academic discussion but also important policy debates on how to promote democracy in the postcommunist world and beyond.