Description
Book SynopsisThis book explores Europe's third sector - the non-profit organisations and providers of social services such as mutuals, co-operatives, associations, voluntary organisations and charities: these elements of a civil society are important yet often overlooked features in contemporary socio-economics and social policy.
The pathbreaking contributions examine the third sector in Europe within a framework which seeks to conceptually integrate two hitherto separate debates: that concerning the 'social economy' of co-operatives and mutuals, and the debate on voluntary, civil society and non-profit organisations.
Theoretical concepts are developed and debated, and the relationship between the development of national societies, public welfare and the third sector are explored. The book goes on to discuss the crucial role of the state and public policies - including measures that have been introduced at the European Union level. The contributions reveal the need for policy perspectives and forms of governance that respect the added value of third sector organisations, without separating them. It is argued that, in future European welfare models, it is not the size of a third sector that matters, but rather the overall impact of its civic principles.
With its informative contributions about the third sector in various EU countries, the theoretical approaches offered and the ways in which policy issues are dealt with, this book will be of great interest to a wide-ranging audience including: social policy scholars, economists, political scientists and policymakers with an interest in the evolution of the third sector.
Trade Review'. . . an original and challenging work about the roles and visions of the third sector in an integrated Europe.' -- Jerzy Krzyszkowski, European Journal of Social Work
'This set of essays and theoretical formulations provides productive insights on the transformation of the welfare state, of elements of market capitalism, and of broad sets of social institutions such as the family and the local community, linking developments to individual national histories and to underlying political and economic changes, some fostered by globalization. . . this is a highly useful book and should be consulted by anyone wishing to race third sector changes individual societies in Western Europe. It also offers productive ideas on which additional analytical models could be based.' -- Hans C. Palmer, Comparative Economic Studies
'. . . the volume. . . is very worthwhile reading. There are many good articles and background stories. A volume focusing on the third sector in Europe has been long overdue.' -- Annette Zimmer, Public Management Review
'The Third Sector in Europe
is a stimulating book, the product of a good deal of collective deliberation. It offers a nice alternative to the theorizing about the third sector on the other side of the Atlantic. Anyone interested in the theory of the third sector should have a copy.' -- Mark Lyons, Voluntas: International Journal of Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Marketing
Table of ContentsContents: Introduction Part I: Distinct Realities and Concepts: The Third Sector in Europe Part II: Social Economies, Voluntary Agencies and the Civil Society: The Third Sector in Various European Countries Part III: The Third Sector, the State and the European Union Part IV: What Matters with Respect to the Third Sector? Theoretical Considerations Index
