Institutional Strengthening
Not all organizations are institutions and not all institutions are simply aggregations of organizations. Our understanding of institutions and organizations often overlap, and the distinction between the two becomes blurred.
On PRACTICE IN PARTICIPATION, we conceptualize a slim, yet distinct, difference between organizations and institutions, and the nature of participatory processes that aid their strengthening. Ultimately though, both institutions and organizations in the context of this portal are those that shape and direct social behaviour.
″Institutions, whether organizations or not, are complexes of norms and behaviours that persist over time by serving collectively valued purposes.″ (Fowler, p. 14) read more
This is a chapter from the book- “Spaces for Change ? The Politics of Citizen Participation in New Democratic Arenas”.
Editors – Andrea Cornwall and Vera.S. Coelho
Publisher- Zed Books, London
Year-2007
Written partly in first person narrative of the author, the chapter talks about gendered construction of participation in local institutions created by the state in India to promote development and democracy.