Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

In the society, the relation between actors, individuals or organisations, are daily. From these interactions, networks are rising. An actor gets closer to another and gets to exchange information, objects and other resources. These resources help to take action and to achieve contextual goals. The network appears as a place where people and organisations can get the tools that will allow to reach goals.

Taking the perspective of the ENGOs, this thesis tends to develop understanding about how these organisations use their networks. It is about exploring the ENGOs' practices within their network to get to know their connections, the kind of resources they exchange and to understand if these relationships help to achieve goals such as the protection of the nature or the change of people's behaviours.

The research is mainly based on the study of the theories of social network and social capital as well as the data collected at three environmental NGOs: Greenpeace (Swedish office in Stockholm), The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (Head Quarter in Stockholm) and Surfrider Foundation Europe (Head Quarter in Biarritz, France).