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Visegrad Summer School

Visegrad Summer School. 7.7.2014. Magda Vášáryová. My adventure with NGOs. 1990 – 1993 → ambassador in Austria – clerk 1993 → NGO SFPA – founder 1999 → presidential candidacy – executive 2000 – 2005 → ambassador in Poland – clerk

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Visegrad Summer School

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  1. Visegrad Summer School 7.7.2014 Magda Vášáryová

  2. My adventurewithNGOs • 1990 – 1993 → ambassador in Austria – clerk • 1993 → NGO SFPA – founder • 1999 → presidential candidacy – executive • 2000 – 2005 →ambassador in Poland – clerk • 2005 – 2006 →Secretary of State of the MFA SR – politician • 2006 - member of parliament – politician • 2007 – NGO Via Cultura, IKP – founder

  3. When actually an inhabitant became a citizen? • civil society emerged as a consequence of theEnlightenment • The French revolution (1789) • civil society expropriates what was part of the religion before  consequence of liberal Protestantism • the year 1789 is not universal for the whole world • abolition of serfdom- revolutionary year 1848 • the voice of active citizens in Central Europe – in 1989 • state lost its monopoly for political life

  4. Totalitarianregimesconstrainedfreedom to establishNGOs ... but some NGOs existed The House of Gardeners Stamp collectors Fishing associations

  5. Inhabitantsshouldhavebeen happy, alwayssmiling We honestly fulfill tasks at the construction sites of youth... Come among us! In solid union of workers and peasants... A happiness and wealth of our people grows Our homeland will be beautifull and rich

  6. Thefundamentalquestiontodaysounds Howisitpossiblethatevenintelligentpeoplehavefallenintothe trap of thesekindof propaganda? Martin Heidegger Ilia Erenburg

  7. Big Brother watched... ... in prisons and gulags Alexandr Solženicyn

  8. Why Charter 77 was not an NGO? Because then Ministry of the Interior of socialist Czechoslovakia would not have registered it. On the contrary, it would have imprisoned its participants. Signature of Václav Havel under the Charter 77

  9. WHY? Civil society associated in NGOs is one of the most important sources of critical thinking.

  10. 1989 The year of liberation of the citizens within V4 countries

  11. Slovak NGOsCase Živena (1869; rebuilt in 1989) – the oldest Slovak women association; as the first NGO SAIA (1990) - Slovak Academic Information Agency assists to internationalization of education and science in Slovakia SFPA (1993) – Slovak Foreign Policy Association serves as a discuss forum international issues and foreign policy in Slovakia IVO (1997) Institute for Public Affairs is think-tank producing independent analysis of public policy issues

  12. International NGOs „pressure“ Transparency International Amnesty International Greenpeace

  13. ThemainproblemwithNGOs FINANCES • an enormous technological, cultural and institutionaldebts of post-communist countries • lack of prosperous and stable companies • lack of valid information and contacts • lack of modern legislative and goodjudges

  14. Keyproblem of financialresources (again!) • Resource: western foundations(U.S., Germany, Great Britain, Japan, Switzerland) • Resource: embassies (NorwegianFunds, theNetherlands, Belgium, Taiwan) • Resource: supranationalcorporations(Siemens, Eset,...) • Resource: domestic – 2% fromtaxes (asignation of 2%) • Thebiggestresource: voluntarycontributions

  15. Villa Decius Association (1995) • very good example how to revive tradition • how to restore and modernise Villa • how to fill Villa with many activities and especially young people • how to strengthen amicus certusin paradis terrestiare • how to continue what started in 1528 • the result - centre of Cracow humanism

  16. Crucial year for NGOs in Slovakia • parliamentary elections in 1998 • emergence of the Third sector • Citizen eye • record 80% turnout of first-time voters

  17. Golden age of NGOs (from political point of view) • struggle for saving democracy and western orientation of V4 countries • help for those who did not succeed • fight against anti-European propaganda in V4

  18. Continuation... • Diverzification of NGOs • national • regional • international politics • education • CHARITY– the result: new Mr. President of Slovakia!

  19. NGOs are not a magic formula for problems of all kind • NGOs established by „straw men“ • pseudoNGOs with clear political aims • NGOs as a centre of radical thoughts • NGOs as a quiet port for retired experts • NGOs as cache for uncooperative individualists WHY?

  20. Positives • work for NGO as religiousness that spilt from outside to inside towards open humanism • work for NGO as creative temporary employment • work for NGO as unique experience of personal development • work for NGO as source of critical thinking • work in flexible structure

  21. Negatives • critical thinking without responsibility • danger of permanentmoralizing • stagnation in „pullover culture“ • result of frustration or excessive enthusiasm result is adolescent requests

  22. BUT... Who was not in NGO does not know what it means to be a citizen of 21st century As a volunteer As an employer As an expert As a supporter

  23. ... however Who thinks that work for an NGO is a lifelong employment – takes a great risk U.S. citizens constantly switch among functions NGO  executive  parliament  academics  NGO executive  ...

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