037. We need to rethink the 'virtue narrative' surrounding NGOs: Aseem Prakash
Summary
Why might the assumptions we frequently make about the ‘virtue narrative’ that surrounds NGOs be problematic? Aren't they meant to create social good in the world?
In this podcast episode, I discuss this with Aseem Prakash, a well-known academic who focuses on nonprofits as well as on environmental activism, particularly focused on climate change. Aseem wrote an article, problematizing exactly this ‘virtue narrative’ surrounding NGOs.
Aseem’s Bio:
We discuss:
Academics in the past have created typologies of types of NGO failures:
Given these failures, it is not healthy to assume that NGOs always do good. In other words, when NGOs are assumed to be ‘virtuous’ and this virtue narrative is held too tightly, it can create conditions for lapses in how NGOs' actual performance is monitored (or regulated)
In addition, self-regulation by NGOs has been helpful, but probably not sufficient to weed out 'bad apples', or more important simply underperforming actors.
Quotes
“Do ‘global charity chains’ function like a supply chain for multinational corporations?”
“When NGO agendas or advocacy stances do not represent the preferences of the underprivileged – who are already neglected by the state and markets --, NGOs may actually reproduce inequality”
Resources:
Aseem’s Website
Aseem’s LinkedIn profile
Aseem’s recent blog posts:
Aseem encouraged me in 2019 to publicize an essay in Nonprofit Policy Forum on organizational culture in NGOs and how i&
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free