GO–NGO Relationship in South Asia: Potential Reversal of Authority?

The increasing strength and influence of NGOs in South Asia have multifaceted implications for the relationship between government organizations (GO) and NGOs in South Asia; as we have seen in the previous chapter, the internal and external geopolitical alignments of both governments and NGOs are pivotal. On the one hand, NGOs are increasingly co-opting and collaborating with the government to address societal challenges (Clark et al., 1998; Mojumder & Panday, 2019). In these scenarios, NGOs work with the government through contracting arrangements or partnerships to complement government efforts in service delivery and policy implementation (Bloodgood & Tremblay-Boire, 2017). On the other hand, NGOs are confronting and challenging the government through their activities, advocacy efforts, and mobilization of public opinion (Heurlin, 2010; Zafar Ullah et al., 2006). This confrontational dynamic is evident when NGOs face government repression due to their perceived political activities or disagreements on policy issues (Heyzer, 1995; Shigetomi, 2002). Traditionally, the power dynamics between GO and NGOs have been characterized by governmental dominance, with NGOs operating as subordinate actors within the development landscape (Haque, 2020; Heurlin, 2010). However, an emergent trend is observed as NGOs are accruing strength and influence, shifting power dynamics and challenging the traditional hierarchy (Bloodgood & Tremblay-Boire, 2017; Mojumder & Panday, 2019). NGOs’ growing strength and influence are progressively reshaping the power dynamics between GO and NGOs across various activities. The central problem revolves around understanding the consequences of this shift in power dynamics in multiple topologies within the relationship.