Transnational Association Networks: research topics on international NGOs

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Transnational Association Networks (TANs)

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Anthony Judge and Kjell Skjelsbaek

Previously printed in International Associations, 1972, pp. 481-465 [PDF version]

In a further effort to stimulate academic study of 'international nongovernmental nonprofit organizations', it seemed useful to bring together into one list many of the areas which have not been researched or which merit further attention (for an earlier effort at listing study topics in this domain see, G P. Speeckaert, 1960). This is done below. It is hoped, that even if the topics selected do not cover the major areas of interest, they will at least serve to highlight any lacunae. Comments would be welcomed.

As a complement to this initiative, the authors have prepared a bibliography of about 1000 articles and documents which represent as much of the literature that could be located in the time available (Judge and Skjeslbaek, 1972).

The term 'transnational association networks', was chosen in order to provoke comment on the adequacy of the current term 'international nongovernmental organization'. 'International' is not applicable to many INGOs; and the current increasing use of 'transnational' seems more appropriate. 'Association" is used because international 'organization', in the literature and in practice, is nearly always associated implicitly with IGOs.

'Networks' is added in the plural because most bodies are embedded in several inter-organizational networks -- this is usually ignored and INGOs are analyzed as isolated entities. The properties of the network and the nature of an organization's involvement in it, may be more significant than that of the sum of the 'isolated' entities or an aggregation of their transactions.

'Nongovernmental' is dropped because there are many mixed, 'intersect', organizations particularly in the developing and socialist countries -- also in some cultures 'non-' may mean something very close to "anti-". To define "X" as "nongovernmental" is a plain confession of inability to conceptuaIize" "X" and in practice means that "X" can only be conceived of in relation to government -- and, in practice, as the "hand-maiden", of government. For this reason, at the national level, terms with a positive connotation are mainly used as appropriate (e.g. "voluntary", "professional", etc.)

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