NGOs AS A SPECIFIC MODEL OF PARTICIPATION- HOW CAN ONE JUSTIFY THAT MODEL WITH REGARD TO THEORY OF DEMOCRACY?

Yıl 2018, Cilt: 3 Sayı: 4, 59 - 82, 31.01.2018

Miray Azaklı Köse

Öz

This paper aims to discuss the roles and participation channels of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on international plane in the light of the theory of democracy. Firstly NGO participation to
international legal system will be examined very briefly by looking at three periods of international law. Although NGOs have been effective in international sphere, they still not been considered a subject of international law that possess legal personality. However the emergence of new concepts such as “global governance”, explains NGOs’ new roles in the theory of democracy.

Democracy without participation of civil society, has been seen as a deficient concept. That is because it does not only mean voting in elections. With globalization process the importance of the participation of civil society has been increased gradually. After mentioning democratic deficit of international law with regard to non-state actors in the second part; the current legal status of NGOs
under international law, their roles and participation channels will be examined. Furthermore the question of whether there is a generally accepted definition of NGOs according to the relevant international legal documents will be discussed.

One of the most important areas in which NGOs perform significant functions is the environmental law. The term “global environmental governance” has been used to explain the legitimacy of NGO participation to the field. Finally, a brief overview of how NGOs function in this specific field (the means of participation) and some problems that stemm from the lack of legal personality of NGOs will be discussed.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Non-governmental organizations, environmental law, participation, global governance, civil society

Kaynakça

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