ABSTRACT
For scholars of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in international relations, the subject of state–NGO relations has been unavoidable. This chapter reviews the substantial literature on NGOs’ interactions with states. It tackles the analytical challenge of identifying the populations of interest, both states and NGOs. The chapter describes patterns of NGO–state interactions, drawing upon existing typologies of NGOs’ relations with other actors. It explores the factors that shape these NGO–state relations. The chapter examines how and when NGOs influence state practices. Conflict and cooperation among states and NGOs receive much more attention than the other two relationships, competition and cooptation. Yet functional demands and resource flows are just two possible drivers of NGO–state relations, and a useful typology should describe a variety of outcomes without privileging particular explanations. The importance of NGOs to the state may also depend on the size of the NGO population, which can vary by issue area and across time.
