Transnational Advocay Networks in Perspective: Democratization, Human Rights and NGOs in Turkey

Abstract

In a global world, foreign/international and domestic/national nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) work together on many issues including democratization and human rights. This cooperation is not welcomed by all circles, and even evaluated through conspiracy theories. In the face of such suspicion, the purpose of this study is to examine the cooperation between the foreign and domestic NGOs that work in the realm of democratization and human rights in Turkey. The theoretical framework is provided by the literature on “transnational advocacy networks”. Archival research and semi-structured in-depth interviews with the representatives of both foreign and national NGOs are employed as the two main methodological approaches. The findings show that these NGOs share resources such as power, information, experience and money in order to overcome the limitations of their environments.