NGOs in contemporary Britain : non-state actors in society and politics since 1945

Examining the history of social movements and non-state socio-political action, this volume shows how Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have proliferated in Britain since 1945, and how they have raised new political agendas, revived associational life, and arguably re-politicized generations disillusioned with the politics of the ballot box. The history of post-war Britain can only be properly understood with reference to the phenomenon of non-governmental organizations (NGOs). They have been right at the heart of every major socio-political initiative. From environmentalism to consumerism; from international aid to human rights; on identity issues such as age, gender, race, religion, disability and sexuality; and on social policy issues such as homelessness, education, child protection and mental health. This book offers the first survey account of NGOs in Britain since 1945. It brings together younger and established scholars to showcase new research presented in the form of surveys of the following areas: environmentalism, international aid and development, human rights, the peace movement, gay rights, sexual politics, women's groups, the anti-apartheid movement, the poverty lobby, drugs, fair-trade, moral reform groups, the relationship between NGOs and the state, and the nature of democracy. It does so by offering accounts of key NGOs in postwar Britain including Amnesty International, the Abortion Law Reform Association, Greenpeace, the Women's Institute, the Child Poverty Action Group and even Mary Whitehouse's National Viewers' and Listeners' Association Front Matter....Pages i-xi Introduction....Pages 1-20 Direct Action and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, 1958–62....Pages 21-37 British Humanitarian, Aid and Development NGOs, 1949–Present....Pages 38-58 Housewives, Workers and Citizens: Voluntary Women’s Organisations and the Campaign for Women’s Rights in England and Wales during the Post-War Period....Pages 59-76 The Sphere of Sexual Politics: The Abortion Law Reform Association, 1930s to 1960s....Pages 77-94 Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual NGOs in Britain: Past, Present and Future....Pages 95-112 Human Rights Campaigns in Modern Britain....Pages 113-128 The Anti-Apartheid Movement: Pressure Group Politics, International Solidarity and Transnational Activism....Pages 129-146 Stopping the Poor Getting Poorer: The Establishment and Professionalisation of Poverty NGOs, 1945–95....Pages 147-163 The Changing Role of NGOs in Britain: Voluntary Action and Illegal Drugs....Pages 164-181 There Was Something About Mary: The National Viewers’ and Listeners’ Association and Social Movement History....Pages 182-200 Environmental NGOs and the Environmental Movement in England....Pages 201-221 NGOs and Fair Trade: The Social Movement Behind the Label....Pages 222-241 Transforming a Divided Civil Society? Governance, Conflict Transformation and NGOs in Northern Ireland, 1970–2006....Pages 242-260 NGOs and Democratisation: Assessing Variation in the Internal Democratic Practices of NGOs....Pages 261-280 Back Matter....Pages 281-303