Do NGOs Have Politics？FMPAT and Taiwan’s Participation in World Health Organization
Date Issued
2016
Date
2016
Author(s)
Wu, Yi-Chin
Abstract
To clarify the issue of “Do NGOs have politics？”, this research leads to a positive answer by exploring how FMPAT promotes Taiwan’s participation in WHO. Moreover, to explore what kind of politics can NGOs have and in what form it may be shown, this research focuses on NGO’s ability to influence decision-making and the extent of its interaction with government. Furthermore, this research points out the influence of NGO’s politics on its function and its long term development. This research concluded that as an NGO aimed to promote public benefit, FMPAT do have a variety of politics in its interaction with government. This kind of politics is based on FMPAT’s social and political influence. Specifically, its politics is reflected from the fact that its member had access to advice President and to bring about President’s decision on establishing a intersectional task force on WHO under the lead of the Premier. The network with and resource from Chen Shui Bian''s administration made FMPAT possible to play more positive and multiple roles in promoting Taiwan’s participation in WHO. It provides a successful example of “NGO diplomacy” as well as “health diplomacy” under the context of Taiwan’s complex international relation. This research also indicates that if an NGO relies on one single political party too much, its operation would be easily influenced by the rotation of political parties, which is disadvantageous to its sustainable development. Hence, this research suggests that NGOs should use their politics as an approach to access government resource. At meanwhile, they should intensify their knowledge-based specialty as their power to extend their long term influence. Nevertheless, to promote Taiwan’s participation in other International Governmental Organization in the future, we can learn from FMPAT’s experience. Through a better cooperation platform for government and NGOs, they can work together in diplomacy affairs. Under the concept of “public diplomacy,” NGOs can bring new opportunity for Taiwan’s international participation.
Subjects
World Health Organization
WHO
NGOs
Politics
Foundation of Medical Professionals Alliance in Taiwan
Track Two Diplomacy
Type
thesis
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