Non-Governmental Organizations in Human Security in the Context of (Neo)Liberal Order

Abstract

The presented analysis critically investigates the role of non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) in the area of human security, specifically in humanitarian disarmament. The
objective of the first half is to map the existing discourse on NGOs in this area. After an outline of
the characteristics of the field, what follows is an empirical analysis of the discourse on the
campaign to ban landmines in its much celebrated role of a model of humanitarian disarmament.
The second half has a rebuttal of the belief in the emancipatory role of NGOs in this issue area as
its main aim. Foucault’s theorization and conceptualization of the development of liberalism and
neo-liberalism serve as the basis for this task. The provided interpretation rests on three arguments.
First, the notion of newness and lack of precedents regarding the role of NGOs in this area is
flawed. Empirical material that deals with 19th Century liberally-based campaigns for humanitarian
disarmament will be used to support this claim. Second, the image of soft power as allegedly
characterizing the relationship between NGOs and governments in this area is challenged. In order
to correct such a portrayal, characteristics of the recent neo-liberal, disciplinary regime in which
NGOs have had to operate are provided. Finally, the commonly held idea that one needs to study
the accompanying processes at the global level is rectified. As a result, it is argued that micro-processes within domestic institutional settings and the move from the domestic transformations of
the non-profit sector in Canada to the global desecuritization of human security also need to be
examined.