"Northern non-governmental organisations are widely assumed to be getting 'too close for comfort' to their own states. This book is the first to systematically explore the changing priorities, procedures and practices of French NGOs. Drawing on extensive interviews, this much-needed survey uses Resource Dependence theory and a case study of NGO fieldwork in Cameroon to shed new light on the behaviour of these increasingly important actors. With its strong comparative dimension, its helpful annexes and its blending of theory and practice, this carefully researched book will be essential reading for specialists in, and students of, politics, sociology, French and development studies."--BOOK JACKET.