American Enterprise Institute/Building Partnerships

AEI/ Building Partnerships

According to the American Enterprise Institute’s (AEI) website, the organization “is a community of scholars and supporters committed to expanding liberty, increasing individual opportunity, and strengthening free enterprise” (AEI, 2013). It is nonprofit organization founded in 1938 and headquartered in Washington, DC (AEI, 2013). AEI prides itself for being nonpartisan, committed to open, independent thinking and research “on issues of government, politics, economics and social welfare,” as well as serving and educating the public (AEI, 2013).

The center’s perspective on voluntary and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) is mixed. In other words, while AEI considers NGOs forces of change, influencing international and national governments and corporations, the organization’s view concerning their achievements and impact is both positive and negative. On the one hand, it treats NGOs with caution, almost dreading their existence, as indicated by remarks concerning their legitimacy, accountability, and credibility (AEI, 2003). Noting their achievements and contributions to human rights, the environment, and economic and social development, AEI (2003) also points out that “the growing power of supranational organizations and a loose set of rules governing the accreditation of NGOs has meant that an unelected few have access to growing and unregulated power.” Asserting that NGOs coerce leaders into acquiescence through twisting policies and intentions to fit their need, they exercise undue influence over the policy making process (AEI, 2003). In addition, they tend to “create their own rules and regulations and demand that governments and corporations abide by those rules” (AEI, 2003). Likewise, the argumen...

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