Third sector organisations in the changing welfare systems of Central and Eastern European countries : some theoretical and methodological considerations

Kolarič, Zinka (author)

Two theoretical/methodological shifts are necessary in the research approach to third sector organisations if we want to not only identify but also explain the changes/trends seen in the development of third sector organisations in Central and Eastern European societies. The first one is a shift away from the concept of the welfare state/welfare state regime to the concept of the welfare system/type of welfare system. Realisation of this concept enables us to move beyond the isolated investigation of third sector organisations; it directs us to research third sector organisations as an important structural element of the welfare system in relation to other structural elements. The second methodological shift is a shift from convergence research to research of the diversity of the changing welfare systems of Central and Eastern European societies. This diversity is conditioned by the different socio-political strategies used by national actors as reform strategies for entire welfare systems or parts of them. These strategies determine the changes in the structure of welfare systems and thereby the position, character and role of third sector organisations as an important structural element of them.

• Language: English
• Work type: Not categorized
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FDV - Faculty of Social Sciences
• Year: 2009
• Number of pages: Str. 224-236
• Numbering: Letn. 46, št. 3
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-23010
• UDC: 36:061.2(4-014/-015)
• ISSN on article: 0040-3598
• COBISS.SI-ID: 28490845
• Publication date in RUL: 11.07.2014

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Teorija in praksa : revija za družbena vprašanja
• Shortened title: Teor. praksa
• Publisher: Fakulteta za družbene vede
• ISSN: 0040-3598
• COBISS.SI-ID: 763652

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian

Abstract

V težnji po identificiranju in pojasnitvi sprememb/trendov v razvoju organizacij tretjega sektorja v srednje in vzhodnoevropskih družbah sta potrebna dva teoretsko-metodološka premika v raziskovalnem pristopu. Prvi premik je premik od uporabe koncepta država blaginje/tip države blaginje, h konceptu sistem blaginje/tip sistema blaginje. Ta koncept nas usmeri k proučevanju organizacij tretjega sektorja kot pomembnega strukturnega elementa sistema blaginje, v njegovi soodvisnosti od ostalih strukturnih elementov, in nam tako omogoči preseči izolirano proučevanje teh organizacij. Drugi nujni premik je premik od raziskovanja k kateremu "zahodnemu" tipu sistema blaginje konvergirajo spreminjajoči se sistemi blaginje v srednje in vzhodno evropskih družbah, k raziskovanju različnosti/raznolikosti teh sistemov. Ta različnost/raznolikost spreminjajočih se sistemov blaginje je pogojena z različnimi socialno-političnimi strategijami, ki jih uporabljajo akterji v posameznih družbah kot reformne strategije za celoten sistem blaginje ali za njegove posamezne dele. In te strategije so tiste, ki določajo pomen, karakter in vlogo organizacij tretjega sektorja v posameznem sistemu oziroma v posamezni družbi.