The Limited Influence of INGOs on Peace and Security Governance

الملخص

International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs) are widely recognized as major players in global peace and security; however, their actual impact is often underexplored and frequently exaggerated. This paper addresses the gap between their perceived transformative capacity and their marginalized, symbolic role in security governance, critically examining their collaboration with intergovernmental institutions, civil society, and other actors. Using a qualitative approach and case studies on the cooperation of INGOs with the United Nations, the European Union, and NATO, the study identifies sustainable limitations in their political position, operational capacity, and popular mandate—constraints that prevent them from becoming key participants in decision-making or organizing coordinated international action.  Structural reorganization of security systems is unlikely to result from INGO reforms; instead, such reforms often legitimize existing power imbalances and facilitate resource transfers, with holistic influence remaining the exception. On the international stage, their role is secondary, never central. These findings suggest that assumptions about INGOs’ effectiveness should be grounded in case-specific, evidence-based analysis. INGOs remain a valuable asset for policymakers and scholars seeking to foster realistic, strategically inclusive security governance.