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NGOs helping migrants: an Israeli case study of counterculture

Yaffa Moskovich (Department of Behavioral Science, Zefat Academic College, Zefat, Israel)
Adi Binhas (Bet Berl College, Tzur Moshe, Israel)

International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy

ISSN: 0144-333X

Article publication date: 8 September 2015

308

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the NGOs in the immigration field as a counterculture working simultaneously with and against the establishment.

Design/methodology/approach

Case study approach using interviews and documents analysis.

Findings

This paper studies the cultural features of three civil associations, interested in promoting social welfare for immigrants. These NGOs challenge the Israeli government when it violates human rights. This conflict takes place in the courts, the Knesset (parliament), governmental agencies, the media, and sometimes in the streets. The three NGOs use a variety of political strategies: both collaborating with governmental agencies, while simultaneously fighting against the government authorities. The cultural features of the immigrant NGOs are primarily left-wing, with socialist principles. The organizational culture of this association can be identified as a counterculture, opposing the dominant Israeli right-wing capitalist culture.

Practical implications

This research can demonstrate how NGOs can use tactics to achieve a high level of success for the underprivileged population.

Originality/value

This case study is unusual in that it suggests the NGOs are a sophisticated counterculture, with activists knowing how to operate concurrently with and against official authorities. The duality of the political cultural behavior of the NGOs’ social movement is a notable phenomenon of counterculture in the political arena and expands the definition of counterculture.

Keywords

Citation

Moskovich, Y. and Binhas, A. (2015), "NGOs helping migrants: an Israeli case study of counterculture", International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Vol. 35 No. 9/10, pp. 635-648. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSSP-11-2014-0109

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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