Syracuse University >> The Maxwell School >> The Moynihan Institute >> Transnational NGOs HOME

Research Profile Globalization, global market integration, migration, and democratization have unleashed a number of cross-national challenges and opportunities unimaginable a few decades ago. From the flow of illegal drugs across state boundaries to the emergence of transboundary environmental crises and health epidemics to the challenge of managing increasingly integrated global economy, the state system that has dominated international politics for over two centuries has lost its capacity to unilaterally deal with these problems on behalf of its citizenry. Increasingly stepping into this void is a new, evolving, and loosely-structured network of transnational non-governmental organizations (TNGOs) seeking to help people manage the whole range of transboundary challenges facing the planet. Indeed, some now claim that transnational NGOs are becoming central facets of the “organizational infrastructure of a globalizing world.” Even as the role that transnational NGOs play in addressing the challenges of globalization and democratization becomes more apparent, the factors contributing to their organizational effectiveness—or relative ineffectiveness—remain under investigation. The Transnational Non-Governmental Organization Initiative at the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs at the Maxwell School of Syracuse University is sponsoring research designed to provide new insights about how TNGOs organize themselves to operate effectively in a new and ever-shifting transnational environment. Our primary research agenda is to better understand the core organizational challenges facing transnational NGOs. Among the specific research questions we are investigating are: How have TNGOs coordinated their activities with states, international organizations, multinational corporations, and other NGOs? What barriers stand in the way of such coordination? How do TNGOs conduct assessment of their programs and initiatives and how can impact assessment be made more effective? How do TNGOs recruit, train, and promote individuals to become effective organizational leaders? How have TNGOs responded to the increasing demand for transparency and accountability in their work? These research questions are now being investigated in a variety of projects conducted by various faulty members and graduate students at the Maxwell School. These research activities include a large-scale interview project with 180 TNGO leaders that is being funded by the National Science Foundation, and several case study research projects on TNGOs within particular regions and topical areas such as the global information policy and conflict resolution. NSF Grant Click here for a summary of the grant proposal. Student Opportunities Currently, four students are involved in data coding, analysis and writing: Jesse Lecy George Mitchell Paloma Raggo; and Lorena Vinuela Ortego There may be some opportunities for other students to assist the Transnational NGO Project team in data preparation during the planned follow up to the current NSF grant, although that is still unconfirmed.  If you are interested in learning about these opportunities, please contact Christiane Page, Research Assistant, cmpage@maxwell.syr.edu.