Go NGOs!

The word 'diplomacy' has historically refered to negotiations on behalf of sovereign mainly covering goverment to government negotions conducted by aristocrats but has over the last 60 years evolved.
It is difficicult to evaluate the evolution of diplomacy as it is an ongoing matter still very much open to scruteny and debate. The most significant alteration to the conduct of diplomacy in my opinion is the emergence of non governmental organisations and multinational corporations and their growing importance on the stage of global politics.
It is however important to note that the importance of multinational corporations in diplomacy stem back to the rise of liberalism as business and economi inevitably have layed at the core of governmental negotiations.

With that said I believe the most significant change to diplomacy is the emergance of NGOs from low politics to high politics and I believe the evolution can be illustrated by the different classifications. Today there are three statuses achievable by NGOs:

General consultative status- In 1946 ECOSOC granted 41 NGOs with consultative status. These organisations covered a majority of the agenda items of ECOSOC and were large and established with significant geographical reach. The number of consultative NGOs have steadily grown since the 40s.
Special consultative status- given to NGOs is more of a recent phenomena. This status is not easily aquired and is granted to organisations with expertize within a one or a few economic or social area.
Roster status- is given to organisations that do not fit the above mentioned but are deemed to occasionally be useful within the narrow remit of expertize that they possess.

The only thing that is growing faster than the number of civil society actors is their influence. These actors are not only more visible in the political west but are steady gaining grounds in the Global South and Soviet bloc.
In Transnational Associations Kerstin Martens argues that it was the end of the Cold War that gave the opportunity for NGOs to enter center stage with states on the global and political platform (2003, p1)

In some instances NGOs as independant organisation hold governments to account but NGOs are not always opponents to governmental institutions and do not always challenge their policies. Rather, they are often directly involved in the design of policies and may shape political processes from inside the official arenas. For example, at the United Nations, NGOs are significantly involved in the activities and performances of the intergovernmental organizations (Ibid).
Their ability to aquire, detailed and accurate information, mobilise big crowds, raise awareness, network across borders and stay current and up to date makes up for their lack of legal enforcement rightfully give NGOs a essential role in 21st century politics.




The link takes to to the memoars of former diplomat WR Roberts where he talks about the evolution of diplomacy from a diplomats perspective:
http://ics.leeds.ac.uk/papers/vp01.cfm?outfit=pmt&folder=7&paper=2712

Videos on the importance of NGOs
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=importance+of+ngos&hl=en&sa=X&prmd=v&source=univ&tbs=vid:1&tbo=u&ei=VIP6TIWQMMWXhQe14u2dCw&oi=video_result_group&ct=title&resnum=7&ved=0CCcQqwQwBg
Journals
Transnational Associations Kerstin Martens, 2003, p1