1968
Analysis of Union of International Associations
C: Future Activities
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Section of Report of a Preliminary Investigation of the Possibility of Using Computer Data Processing Methods (1968): a summary of the various parts of this report, and details of its contents (with links to the various parts), are provided separately
The future possibilities and programs of the UIA must be considered in terms of the features of the dynamic system and the current vagueness about the meaningfulness of 'NGO'. They must also be designed to satisfy the personal objectives of the UIA executives and to allow for current re- sources and competition. These have all been discussed in the first past of this Appendix.
The following points cover activities which might be incorporated into a future program. These do not represent an integrated program since some of the activities are mutually exclusive.
- increase emphasis on congress organization
- develop the documentation system to handle national organizations whose activity is of immediate importance to the world system
- increase ability to handle specific inquiries and general surveys
- develop the point of view of the UIA to cover and relate not only formal organizations (as at present), but the other features of the world system as discussed earlier
- emphasize current activities of the world system rather than the documentation of past activities.
- cease activities and production of all publications which are dupli- cated commercially or attempt to cooperate with them at reduced cost to UIA.
- increase cooperation with institutes of world affairs and peace re- search.
- concentrate on the problems of education about all aspects of NGOs and the world system.
- cease emphasis on activities as a 'union' of international associations and change the name of the organization in order to be able to build a more positive image.
- maintain personnel requirements (and hence expenditure) at a mini- mum and concentrate on increasing the usefulness and sales of the most successful publications.
- develop personal contacts with Unesco national commissions and NGO groupings in order to get more and constant feedback on the role the UIA can usefully play.
- develop Associate membership to get active student and individual support.
- investigate the role the magazine plays and could play to further UIA objectives. It might be an advantage to split the magazine into a serious journal/newsletter on a quarterly basis and a monthly perso- nalized newsletter.
- create subsidiary profit organizations to handle publication sales, congress organization, NGO report sales service
- build up personal contacts with Unesco and grant-giving bodies.
- build up personal contacts with university departments and insti- tutes concerned with the study of international relations.
The above selection of possibilities shows that there are many directions in which the UIA can develop. It is not sufficient, however, to decide on isolated activities and hope to graft them onto the existing program. This might lead to an inconsistent program which would be ineffective.
The feasibility of any future or long -- term program must be considered in terms of the strengths and weaknesses of the UIA as brought out by earlier sections and summarized in the following section. These possibilities must be seen as logical developments from a consistent set of objectives as discussed in a later section. These objectives must then lead to the development of logically consequent and consistent strategies in terms of the environment with which the UIA is faced. These strategies can then be used to develop long-term plans and specific programs.
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