The Voluntary Sector

Abstract

The voluntary sector & participative citizenship are interconnected in complex ways that relate to areas of political, social, & economical pluralism & the development of varied initiative taking in society. In the political dimension, the voluntary sector provides service delivery, possibly through state contracts, & also seeks social change through advocacy & activism. It, therefore, experiences tension between financial relations & the need for independence. Services & goods provided by public benefit associations constitute social economy. This work often requires entrepreneurial skills & focuses on areas that are inefficient through the public sector. It requires government support through effective policy, & often protection through umbrella organizations. The voluntary sector is important in brokering policies & establishing issues in a wide range of policy issues, & has excellent potential to share expertise for government planning. The voluntary/civil sector is a source of new thinking & a link between the citizen, the activist, & the politician. L. A. Hoffman