The frontiers of influence: NGO lobbying at the 1974 World Food Conference, the 1992 Earth Summit and beyond

• Published in: World development Vol. 25; no. 1; pp. 93 - 114
• Main Author: Van Rooy, Alison
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, Eng Elsevier Ltd 1997; Elsevier; Pergamon Press; Pergamon Press Inc
• Series: World Development
• Subjects: Canada; Congresses and Conventions; Development Policy; Environmental Politics; Great Britain; History; Influence; Interest Groups; International; International conferences; International Organizations; Lobby; Lobbying; NGOs; Non-governmental organizations; Nongovernmental Organization (NGO); Nongovernmental Organizations; Policy Making; Studies; Summit; Summit conferences; UNCED; United Nations; United Nations conferences; World Food Conference; United Kingdom > UK; Canada; UNCED; nongovernmental organizations; United Nations conferences; World Food Conference; lobbying; influence
• ISSN: 0305-750X; 1873-5991
• DOI: 10.1016/S0305-750X(96)00092-7

While many are writing about the rise of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to the international stage, this article suggests we need to take a more longitudinal, detailed, and comparative look at NGO lobbying before making assessments about influence. An analysis of Canadian and British development NGOs' lobbying of their own governments prior to two world conferences, 18 years apart, suggests that NGOs have the most influence in highly salient, low policy issues accompanied by early and continuous access to decision-makers. Trends since 1992 are discussed, pointing to the importance of studying the “nongovernmental movement” as part of a much more interesting debate on international governance.