ABSTRACT

This chapter engages in a discussion around the importance of the multiple external factors affecting civil society organizations (CSOs) in the Arab world as a whole. These mainly include the historical/political factors and the legal framework which play a significant role in determining the level of advancement of CSOs in the region. Under the contingency theory which will serve as a base for this study, these factors affecting governance are called contingencies. The multiple definitions and main theories of governance will serve as a starting point in the contingencies debate and lead the way towards discussing them, especially the broad and under-developed legal framework of such institutions, under a clearer light. Finally, it is concluded that the nature of the legal framework governing CSOs should be reformed in a way to become more adaptable to the constantly changing environment of countries in the region and that there is no one-best-way to govern such institutions, but a rather ever-changing way which could be adjusted to different situations.