Politics and Society · 5th Year · Active Citizenship and Participation · 2.º Período

Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)

Students will evaluate the role and effectiveness of NGOs and civil society groups in advocating for policy changes. The topic includes analyzing successful and unsuccessful campaign strategies.

TL;DR:This topic examines the vital role of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and civil society in the Irish political landscape. Students learn how these organizations act as intermediaries between the individual and the state, providing services, advocating for policy change, and acting as watchdogs. The unit covers a range of NGOs, from large international bodies like Amnesty International to local Irish charities like Focus Ireland or Threshold.

• NCCA Curriculum Specifications
• Leaving Certificate Politics and Society, Strand 2, LO 2.3
• Leaving Certificate Politics and Society, Strand 2, LO 2.4

About This Topic

This topic examines the vital role of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and civil society in the Irish political landscape. Students learn how these organizations act as intermediaries between the individual and the state, providing services, advocating for policy change, and acting as watchdogs. The unit covers a range of NGOs, from large international bodies like Amnesty International to local Irish charities like Focus Ireland or Threshold.

Students will evaluate the strategies NGOs use to influence the government, such as lobbying, public awareness campaigns, and legal challenges. This is a crucial topic for understanding how 'soft power' works in practice. This topic comes alive when students can physically model the patterns of a campaign, from identifying a target to selecting the most effective medium for their message.

Key Questions

1. What role do NGOs play in a democratic society?
2. How do civil society groups campaign for change?
3. Are NGOs truly effective in holding governments accountable?

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

NGOs are just charities that give out food or money.

What to Teach Instead

While some provide direct aid, many NGOs focus on 'advocacy', changing the laws and systems that cause the problems in the first place. Comparing a 'service' NGO with an 'advocacy' NGO helps students understand this distinction.

Common Misconception

The government and NGOs are always in conflict.

What to Teach Instead

In Ireland, the government actually funds many NGOs to provide essential services. This 'partnership' model is a key feature of the Irish system. Peer discussion about the 'independence' of funded NGOs can surface the complexities of this relationship.

Active Learning Ideas

Simulation Game

The NGO Campaign Pitch

Small groups are assigned a specific social issue (e.g., homelessness, ocean plastic). They must design a 3-minute 'pitch' for a campaign, identifying their target audience, their key 'ask' of the government, and their primary tactic (e.g., a social media blitz or a protest). The class votes on the most persuasive strategy.

60 min·Small Groups

Stations Rotation

NGO Case Studies

Set up stations with information on different Irish NGOs (e.g., Friends of the Earth, Pavee Point, St. Vincent de Paul). At each station, students must identify: 1) Who they represent, 2) One major success they've had, and 3) One challenge they face. This provides a broad overview of the diversity of civil society.

45 min·Small Groups

Formal Debate

Are NGOs Truly Democratic?

Students debate the proposition: 'NGOs have too much influence over government policy without being elected.' One side argues for the importance of expert advocacy and minority representation; the other focuses on accountability and the 'unelected' nature of these groups. This encourages high-level critical thinking about democratic legitimacy.

50 min·Whole Class

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I help students distinguish between an NGO and a political party?

Focus on their goals: a political party seeks to *be* the government and hold power across all issues; an NGO seeks to *influence* the government on specific issues. Using a Venn diagram to show where they overlap (e.g., both use social media, both have members) and where they differ is a great active learning task.

What are the best hands-on strategies for teaching NGO effectiveness?

Campaign analysis is very effective. Take a recent successful campaign (like the campaign for the 'Right to Housing') and have students 'reverse engineer' it. By identifying the steps taken, the obstacles overcome, and the eventual outcome, students see the practical mechanics of NGO influence.

Why is the study of NGOs important for the Leaving Cert exam?

NGOs are a frequent topic in the 'Active Citizenship' section of the exam. Students are often asked to evaluate the role of 'interest groups' or 'civil society' in a democracy. Understanding how NGOs function provides them with the concrete examples needed for high-scoring essays.

How can we discuss the 'dark side' of NGOs (e.g., lack of transparency)?

Use a 'Mock Inquiry' format. Have students investigate a fictional or real-world controversy involving an NGO's finances or governance. This teaches them that while NGOs do good work, they must also be held to high standards of accountability and transparency.