According to some assessments, there are more than 50,000 registered nongovernmental organizations in Ukraine, with around 5,000 actually being active. Running along the weak state institutions, international nongovernmental organizations and local NGOs often take a more robust position, particularly on human rights, democratization and anti-corruption. It has become a common practice for them to work side by side with a state in advancing these areas. NGOs, together with a handful of media outlets, are practically serving as national and local watchdogs acting with moral authority assigned to them by the pro-liberal movement. Many NGOs, as well as a number of bright individuals leading them, are associated with a pro-Western, pro-liberal electorate.
This year a record-breaking number of NGOs are registered at the Central Election Commission to monitor the presidential elections on March 31. Monitors from 139 organizations will be observing the process. This is a major increase in NGOs’ presence compared to just 10 NGOs registered at the Commission in 2014, when only six NGOs deployed observers in all the oblast.
The work of NGOs has had a significant impact on state policies and practices of the state. However, it has not been strong enough to become a game changer. Corruption remains widespread. The state officials subjected to scrutiny by NGOs and media investigations have been resistant. Occasionally, they show their teeth. Most recently, Ukraine’s Constitutional Court eliminated criminal liability for illicit enrichment. As a result, several dozen cases will now be closed. Moreover, the court’s judgment renders the e-declaration system meaningless. This is a major setback for many Ukrainian NGOs.
Unfortunately, for all the observers and anti-corruption campaigns, the race among the front-runners features no candidates from the camp associated with democracy and anti-corruption agenda championed by NGOs. For all the bold pronouncements made after the revolution, the diverse, eclectic, liberal movement has produced many NGOs, but failed to unite this camp behind a dynamic, charismatic, credible, pro-Western politicians. The power of this pro-liberal camp is diluted by the sheer number of groups running their own separate campaigns. This political inflation occurs because there are more groups in this area than original ideas and financial resources available for pursuing them.
It is the time for the anti-corruption movement and NGOs to recognize that civil society has its limitations. They need to step up. They should unite, select a leader or leaders – possibly even strangers to politics, as long as those leaders are honest, principled, and courageous. Together they should run for office, win important posts, combat the corruption that cripples Ukraine, appoint new judges, and do things that demonstrate that this new class is ready to take full responsibility for the future of the country. These elections are saying as much about our future president as they do about the inability of our noisy civil society to abandon petty concerns and come together to promote a shared, bold, and optimistic vision for our country.
Those who are with NGOs and wish to more actively participate in society’s decisions should consider a career in politics. Politicians have a hand in many more decisions important to the country and the communities than an NGO ever will. Politics is not for the shy. It requires a combination of negotiation and public presentation skills. In politics, you find that even small jobs require adjustments to careers. At all levels, entering politics is followed by publicity that is characterized by loss of privacy. Elected officials have to campaign for reelection, but the first time is the real challenge because incumbency is a strong advantage in elections. In Ukraine incumbency is also well-funded and corrupt.
This also requires some introspection on the part of the West. While there is an obvious need for liberal Ukrainian groups to deliver a strong message of political responsibility, the INGOs funding NGOs in Ukraine must help them to step up and produce young leaders with the critical political skills required to come out of age. The Western governments should rule more into money laundering and shady deals of Ukrainian oligarchs, who are preventing new political leaders from emerging and backing the old corrupt guard with their financial and media resources.
