They certainly do not have the mandate to rival democratically elected governments - yet this is what they claim. Their policies are not subject to public scrutiny, debate or vote. In most of these organisations, even paid-up members have no input to policy, priorities or the leadership. The views of the organisation are in general no more than the views of the clique of people who manage the organisation. The fact is, given what was at stake, the mob in Seattle was minuscule.
More people regularly show up to rock concerts and college American football games.
These organisations certainly do not represent the views or interests of most Australians - as shown by their action in Seattle. A successful trade round that focused on reducing agricultural trade barriers was unambiguously in Australia's interest - in economic, social and environment terms. Yet Garrett and comrades fought to stop the trade round and, as a result, retain protection for the rich, inefficient, polluting farmers of Europe. Indeed, they are increasingly being viewed in the Third World as the new imperialists, trying to use the power of international organisations and foreign aid to impose Western values and policies against the wishes and interests of the people. This was very much the case at Seattle, where Bill Clinton and the Europeans were the only representatives to see merit in the NGOs' demands.