Reflection on Capitalism: A Ghost Story

NGO (Non-Profit Organization) is a body which is independent and functions

without interference of third parties like government, corporations etc. Its main
purpose is to address any political or social issue which is carried out through
donations. These organisations take charge of uplifting the condition of
underprivileged and needy sections of the society, providing them with
scholarships and medical treatments, creating awareness among people about
issues and concerns. The foundations like Ford Foundation, Bill Gates Foundation,
Lilly Endowment have been involved in improving the education level,
eradicating poverty, providing healthcare and reducing hunger at international
level.
This was my perception about NGOs until I read this book. Most of the
foundations and NGOs are a puppet of various corporates who use these
organizations as pawns to achieve economic benefits through business
investments. I was under the impression that the most affluent people and
corporations are engaged in philanthropy because of their humanitarian interests
but the book clarifies this notion by highlighting their corporate oriented
interests. They fund the NGOs to support their bottom line through promoting
capitalism. And consequently, NGOs change their outlook and instead of
challenging these interests, they start acting according to their donors wishes.
Due to new free-market capitalism neoliberalism, so many NGOs are coming up
with distorted intentions. The more troubled the society is, the more NGOs are
formed. Higher the quantity, lesser the quality is what defines most of these
bodies. The big companies are investing their money through charitable
foundations as a medium of gaining control over public agenda. This involves
channelling funds to NGOs, educational institutions, film and literary festivals. In
turn, the charitable foundations, pretending to be the benevolent bodies, prepare
the society for the free-markets of corporate capital. These foundations accept
the donations in order to survive in the market and then work under the
guidance and instructions of their donors for the continuous funding. The idea of
having corporate social responsibility might also have evolved with the same
intentions. Corporations and companies involve themselves in various donation
events, volunteering activities, funding organizations, organising public events
and creating awareness through campaigns. All these have hidden agendas
which these companies intend to achieve by creating an influential image in the

public. The same work is carried out with the help of these NGOs which further
help them in changing the public opinions.
I am now motivated to have different perception towards NGOs and charitable
foundations. Some of them might be genuinely working for the society but not all
of them have the same intentions. And these distorted intentions will continue
with the rising capitalist environment and corporate objectives.