Advocacy NGOs and the Neoliberal Pacification of the Demands of the Street

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This book critically explores the role of two advocacy NGOs actively involved in processes of education policymaking during the recent education reforms carried out in Chile, the country known as the first laboratory of neoliberalism around the world. Based on Foucault’s theoretical work on governmentality the book argues that neoliberalism as a form of governmentality has permeated in Chilean policymaking, generating new forms of domination through freedom by situating NGOs as active and responsible subjects of government. In this way, this volume contests the supposed benefits of NGOs as a force to enhance democracy and foment social participation, arguing instead, that NGOs image as representatives of civil society can be used to pacify social movements demands for radical change and build a political consensus that serves to legitimate government interests in policymaking.

Juan Francisco Palma Carvajal is a Lecturer in the School of Policy Studies at the University of Bristol, UK.

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Juan Francisco Palma Carvajal

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NGOs governmentality neoliberalism participation Chilean policymaking Chilean advocacy advocacy street voice neoliberal governance governmentality policymaking Cambiemos la Educación Tiempo de Enseñar Foucault Non-Governmental Organisations

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“This book provides a nuanced analysis, where many others fail to, in the discussion of civil society organisations with a focus on political influence. The liberal wishful thinking by definition sees civil society intervention as a force that diversifies, pluralizes and democratizes the public sphere. This work goes beyond these assumptions as it unpacks, in detail, the influence NGOs effectively have in a particularly controversial political agenda. What happens when influence is sought without an alliance with the challenging social movements? How can a critical approach of influence be achieved without being excluded by the governmental agenda? What are the challenges and tensions that arise from these strategies? Organized civil society is diverse and today foundations and other NGOs are proliferating in Chile, seeking above all to ‘influence’ public policies. With Professionalized and formally autonomous structures, they take advantage of public legitimacy and mass media coverage.  However, these NGOs become part of a highly contradictory broad governmentality that requires critical analysis, which this book performs in detail and with great rigor.”

—Gonzalo Delamaza, Professor, University of Los Lagos, Chile

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