Понимать, чтобы взаимодействовать: специфика НКО и политика межсекторного сотрудничества

Полис. Политические исследования. 2025. № 1. С. 88–100.

Jakobson L. I., Ivanova N.

The aim of this paper is to identify possibilities for a more coherent interaction between the state and nongovernmental noncommercial organizations (NGOs) when their interests align. According to NGO leaders’ surveys, they typically characterize the state NGO policies as follows: “The state is trying to help but is doing it clumsily.” The paper argues that the state policy could have been more effective, had it stronger relied on the knowledge of NGO advantages and weaknesses as determined by theories. This conclusion is made by comparing Russian realities with theories tested abroad and explaining NGO nature compared to entities of the commercial and public sectors. These theories help to identify prerequisites for a successful development of the NGO sector. Motivation inherent to NGOs is of key importance, provided an actual rather than declarative compliance with the requirements delineating the position of NGOs among the totality of legal persons. Russian realities are characterized, using the data of the monitoring conducted by the Center for Studies of Civil Society and the Nonprofit Sector (National Research University Higher School of Economics) since 2006. Part of these data is published for the first time. The comparison revealed weaknesses of the current NGO policies caused by lack of clear demarcation between the sectors, hindering the goal-oriented utilization of relative advantages of each sector, as well as by underestimation of NGO sector potential as a source of innovations and by the neglect of NGO corporate governance reflecting their nature. The final section substantiates the expediency of transition to a more efficient model of NGO sector operation whereby the state, while avoiding the breaking of the established action modes, would encourage a gradual shift toward more progressive ones.

Keywords: корпоративное управление, инновации, НКО, доверие, мотивация, государство, corporate governance, trust, innovations, motivation, сравнительные преимущества, межсекторное партнерство, comparative advantages, cross-sector partnerships, state, trust goods, доверительные блага

Publication based on the results of: Self-organization of citizens and the public administration system: a theory of mutual influence, the experience of Russia and other non-western countries and ways of improving the effectiveness of productive interaction (2025)