International Nongovernmental Organizations (INGOs)

Defined as international entities that are not governmental and not created by intergovernmental agreements, INGOs are a highly diverse and nebulous reality. They encompass, in particular, actors of different size, structure, and legal form (associations, foundations, interest groups), active in distinct fields (e.g., development, rights, environment, sports, culture), and with varying outreach (some operate in two or three countries, others in the majority of the world’s nations). In this entry, INGOs will be understood as private, voluntary nonprofit organizations often claiming independence from states and explicitly pursuing abroad public interest goals. Usually associated to the third sector, which distinguishes them from both the public sector and private businesses, INGOs have come to play an increasingly central role in international politics, including in the fields of ...