Ragged Trousered NGOs: Development Work under Neoliberalism - Softcover

Buxton, Charles

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0367134705 ISBN 13: 9780367134709

Publisher: Routledge, 2019

Synopsis

Ragged Trousered NGOs is a compelling first-hand account of the NGO sector and wider civil society over the past 40 years, examining how and why people take collective action and engage in social development projects. The book explores different organisational and methodological aspects of NGO work and social action, asking what was possible to achieve at a grass-roots level at different times, in different economic and political contexts in the East and West. Adopting a critical perspective, the author argues that social action continues to play a vital and varied role, and yet it struggles to challenge deep-rooted power relations and traditional forms of behaviour in today's unequal world.

In particular, the book draws on examples from the former Soviet Union in transition, and the UK's voluntary sector over the last 40 years, with a view to challenging Eurocentric views about organisations and communities. The analysis adopts a Gramscian view of hegemony and an internationalist and anti-war position on key issues arising in recent armed conflicts and the new cold war with Russia. The book concludes by addressing the challenges for development workers, noting the precarious nature of NGO work despite its many achievements, and suggesting ways in which social activists can pick up more strength and support.

This book's practical perspective on progressive forms of organisational management will be of considerable interest to civil society and NGO development workers, as well as to researchers and students in the fields of international development, politics, sociology and regional studies.

About this title

About the Author

Charles Buxton was Senior Capacity Building Specialist and Regional Representative for INTRAC’s Central Asia Programme, based in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, from 2002-2018. He still lives in Bishkek, active as an independent civil society analyst and expert.

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2019
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0367134705
• ISBN 13: 9780367134709
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 206