The 2004 Princeton Colloquium on Public and International Affairs, In the Service of All Nations? The Role of NGOs in Global Governance and Society, will examine the increasing importance of NGOs and civil society in addressing pressing challenges traditionally within the exclusive purview of governments. It will consider the ways in which NGOs, civil society, public-private partnerships and governments interact, complement, and challenge one another, both domestically and internationally. Among other issues, the Colloquium will ask the following core questions: How should NGOs and civil society held accountable to the individuals they serve? How do they impact the democratic process? To what degree should such entities follow governmental guidelines and what are the implications of their doing so? What is the effect of foundation funding on the goals and missions of non-governmental organizations?

Two distinct sub-themes—AIDS and nation building—will provide lenses through which to examine the changing roles of NGOs and civil society and will offer concrete examples with which to frame our inquiry. NGOs and civil society have a critical role in the battle against the AIDS epidemic. Around the globe, NGOs are providing services, medical care and support for AIDS victims. They are lobbying governments to enhance the effectiveness of AIDS policies and they are helping to restore communities most directly affected by the epidemic. Here in the US, NGOs and civil society are providing direct services to AIDS sufferers, engaging in medical and social research, and raising funds to support victims overseas. The Colloquium will investigate the successes and failures of NGOs and civil society in dealing with these challenges. It will ask how NGOs, civil society, and public-private partnerships are working together and how their efforts could be enhanced.

Similarly, NGOs are taking on the ever-increasing task of nation building, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan. In many areas—such as the provision of local services and the reconstruction of national infrastructure—NGOs are replacing traditional governmental organizations. Yet, at times, the agendas of NGOs and those of government and society may conflict. The Colloquium will evaluate the implications of NGO’s significant involvement in nation building and the effectiveness of public-private partnerships in these efforts. Through an examination of the roles NGOs are taking in nation building, the Colloquium will examine the genesis of public-private partnerships, successes to date, and the potential conflicts that may arise. Concrete examples from Iraq and Afghanistan will clarify the discussion.

By examining the role of NGOs and civil society through the examples of AIDS and nation building, the 2004 Princeton Colloquium will provide important insight and suggest guidelines for the legitimate roles of different actors in national and global governance.