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The role of non-governmental organizations in social transformation: A participatory inquiry in Indonesia
Abstract
This study examines the future role of the NGO movement in social transformation in Indonesia. Social transformation is a process of social change toward the creation of fundamentally new and better economic, political, cultural, and environmental relationships. This study examines three main issues: the nature of ideology, visions, and paradigms of an NGO movement as part of social change; the internal and external factors that prevent an NGO movement from performing a role in social transformation; and, the future agenda and plan of action for social transformation in Indonesia. The study was conducted by a team of NGO activists employing a participatory research approach. This approach is a combination of research, education, dialogue and action. In this approach, NGO activists are placed at the center and are the subjects rather than objects of the research. This study describes a research process that consists of a variety of activities including field interviews, education, social analysis, dialogue and plans for action. The first and second part of the study is a literature review of the theoretical underpinnings of social movement organizations. After reviewing various theories on social movements and social change from the perspective of dominant social sciences and traditional Marxism, the study chose a non-reductionist approach, namely, a Gramscian approach to social movements, particularly in terms of Gramsci's concepts of the organic intellectual, state and civil society, and hegemony. The third and fourth part of the study critically examine the political, economic, cultural and social settings of the present social formation in Indonesia where this study was conducted, revealing the prevailing ideology and paradigm--called Developmentalism, the mask of Third World capitalism. Chapter five and six describe the process of the participatory research. This is a collaborative process of research and analysis of NGO activists' ideology and vision in social change. This effort led to the construction of a critical map of ideological positions and paradigms of Indonesian NGO activists in terms of their perceptions and goals for social change. In return, it raised the critical consciousness of the activists in examining existing roles, biases, visions, paradigms, theories, methodologies and practices. The process of the research also succeeded in developing a concrete agenda for change and a plan of action. The last part of this study includes two chapters, both a conclusion and a reflection on the part of the author about the research process, methodology, and future research. The personal reflection represents accumulated thoughts and expressions gathered throughout the entire process. It accommodates elements of criticism, disappointment, expectation, hope, and recommendation. It is a reflection and expression on the author's role in the process of creating a fundamentally new and better world.
Subject Area
Social structure|Adult education|Continuing education|Economic theory
Recommended Citation
Fakih, Mansour, "The role of non-governmental organizations in social transformation: A participatory inquiry in Indonesia" (1995). Doctoral Dissertations Available from Proquest. AAI9524700.
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations/AAI9524700