ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses key findings from the analysis of the case studies, and this book's contribution to the body of knowledge on NGO strategies. The book concludes with recommendations for NGO and civil society actors, public decision-makers, and international donors aiming to enhance the role of NGOs and civil society actors in the Mekong region. It compares the strategies of two NGO coalitions working towards the same advocacy target in two different contexts. The analysis of competing relationships between formal rules, informal rules, and norms leads people to consider the role of political power. The analysis highlights that even when formal rules exist to protect rights for civil society actors, the dominant actors can manipulate application of the formal rules through use of informal rules in a way that enhances their political power. The case studies identified areas of opportunity in enhancing the advocacy strategies of NGO coalitions within national domains.
