ABSTRACT
This chapter starts by briefly tracing the tumultuous political history of Cambodia, and more specifically in the last 50 years. Next the role of INGOs and NGOs is reviewed and the work of Dan Mission and its partners is located within the broader governance structure of the country. The idea of democracy is still new in Cambodia, and while it exists on paper, a climate of fear persists. On the one hand, rural society is organized on the basis of the age-old idea of patronage. In this context, Dan Mission’s support to partners working at the grassroots level, with a community-based focus on the poor, is laudable. What kinds of DROs have its partner organizations promoted? What are the experiences of those DROs? What strategies do they use? What cross-country lessons can be drawn? In grappling with these questions, the history and context become relevant.
