Final published version
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Theorising accountability for NGO advocacy
AU - Unerman, J.
AU - O'Dwyer, Brendan
PY - 2006
Y1 - 2006
N2 - Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to develop a staged theoretical argument regarding whether non-governmental organisations (NGOs) can be considered responsible and accountable for the direct and indirect consequences, on a wide range of stakeholders, flowing from their advocacy activities. Design/methodology/approach: The paper is primarily theoretical and conceptual, developing a structured, conditional and staged model illustrated with empirical examples. Findings: The paper finds depending upon the theoretical arguments accepted at each stage of the model, the advocacy activities of an NGO may be considered to cause a widespread and often unintended negative impact upon the lives of many stakeholders who are either close to, or remote from, the NGO. Also, that depending upon the theoretical position taken regarding the scope of accountability, all entities - including NGOs - may be regarded as responsible and accountable for the impacts which their activities directly and indirectly cause to a broad range of stakeholders. Research limitations/implications: The model is primarily theoretical, so it can benefit from empirical studies to assess its applicability in practice. It also has the scope to be applied in assessing the responsibility and accountability of a range of other entities for their advocacy - such as businesses, religious bodies, political parties, and academics. Practical implications: The paper presents a ontribution to the growing debate on NGO accountability. Originality/value: The paper uses the synthesis of various philosophical positions to develop a conditional, staged model which may be used to establish whether NGOs (and other organisations) can be regarded as having responsibilities and accountabilities for the direct and indirect impacts of their advocacy activities on a broad range of stakeholders. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
AB - Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to develop a staged theoretical argument regarding whether non-governmental organisations (NGOs) can be considered responsible and accountable for the direct and indirect consequences, on a wide range of stakeholders, flowing from their advocacy activities. Design/methodology/approach: The paper is primarily theoretical and conceptual, developing a structured, conditional and staged model illustrated with empirical examples. Findings: The paper finds depending upon the theoretical arguments accepted at each stage of the model, the advocacy activities of an NGO may be considered to cause a widespread and often unintended negative impact upon the lives of many stakeholders who are either close to, or remote from, the NGO. Also, that depending upon the theoretical position taken regarding the scope of accountability, all entities - including NGOs - may be regarded as responsible and accountable for the impacts which their activities directly and indirectly cause to a broad range of stakeholders. Research limitations/implications: The model is primarily theoretical, so it can benefit from empirical studies to assess its applicability in practice. It also has the scope to be applied in assessing the responsibility and accountability of a range of other entities for their advocacy - such as businesses, religious bodies, political parties, and academics. Practical implications: The paper presents a ontribution to the growing debate on NGO accountability. Originality/value: The paper uses the synthesis of various philosophical positions to develop a conditional, staged model which may be used to establish whether NGOs (and other organisations) can be regarded as having responsibilities and accountabilities for the direct and indirect impacts of their advocacy activities on a broad range of stakeholders. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
KW - Advocacy
KW - Non-governmental organizations
KW - Society
U2 - 10.1108/09513570610670334
DO - 10.1108/09513570610670334
M3 - Journal article
VL - 19
SP - 349
EP - 376
JO - Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal
JF - Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal
SN - 0951-3574
IS - 3
ER -