Using the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (ESCWA) as a case study, this paper examines the concept of civil society for international organizations. The author maintains that ESCWA literature restricts the idea to non-governmental organizations irrespective of the circumstances and aims of their foundation and oblivious to the origin of these organizations and the mechanisms of their formation, the election and rotation of their board, and the civil nature of their work. The study shows that the inherent condition for these organizations is that they do not aspire to power, which excludes oppositional democratic political-party and union organizations from the ranks of civil society in confronting governments and their policies. It also excludes non-governmental organizations that may have an active role in holding governments to account. This ultimately works to the advantage of the existing political regimes who are responsible for hindering political development.