ABSTRACT
The non-governmental organizations (NGO) label is dated and, at least in Latin America, it carries an extra amount of meaning. As noted by Philip Oxhorn third-wave transitions in Latin America were peculiar in that they saw political rights granted in the absence of universal civil rights and in a context of declining social rights. In much of Latin America, the ascent of civil society in the 1980s represented a new phenomenon rather than a restoration: the emergence of forms of collective action that sought to exert influence rather than seize power was quite a novelty. While the modern NGO is a development, its predecessors date back to the early history of the region. More accounts emphasize NGOs’ focused humanitarian peacebuilding interventions in conflict zones, involving direct assistance to victims, the promotion of dialogue and the implementation of alternative initiatives to strengthen democracy and promote peace, and eventually playing a role in the peace negotiations.
