Self-regulation in associations

Abstract

This chapter describes various conceptions of nonprofit organization (NPO) regulation, based on theory and practice at the organizational, sector, national, and international levels. Membership Association (MA) self-regulation is seen as part of NPO regulation more generally. Governments in nearly all nations regulate MAs, especially large MAs with significant paid staff. Unregistered and/or unincorporated MAs (e.g., most local, all-volunteer, Grassroots Associations, GAs) are subject to very little government regulation, except in totalitarian dictatorships, and to lesser extent in authoritarian regimes. Most GAs and Supra-Local all-volunteer MAs exercise only minimal self-regulation in most nations. We sketch historical background and describe multi-national perspectives, including experiences in United States, the Middle East, and Africa. We also address the role of government, and identify various ways to promote MA self-regulation.