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International Conference

Third Sector Organizations in CEE Countries

Background and objectives

Third sector organisations in Central and Eastern European Countries reveal similar characteristics that simultaneously distinguish them from third sector organisations in other societies. These inward similarities and outward differences can be explained in the context of the state-socialist type of welfare system that prevailed in these societies for almost half a century. There has been a ”boom” in the development of third sector organisations after the system change, however, the third sector in these countries is still heavily ambiguous. Moreover, despite the general similarities there are striking differences in the level of development and characteristics of third sector organisations that emerged in a relatively short period in the mentioned societies. Especially in terms of development of service providing organisations and how these organisations are becoming integrated in the changing welfare systems.

As the basic and potentially guiding research framework of the WP we introduce socio-political discourses/strategies that are commonly and European-wide employed by national actors to plan and implement reforms. In this manner we are able to limit the 'endless' plurality of emerging welfare systems and trends in third sector development. The abovementioned discourses/strategies (classical welfarism, empowerment and participation, commercialisation and consumerism, and social investment) are defined as concepts and as practices-strategies which include the priorities of certain actors and their coalitions with which they legitimise their struggle for power (Evers, 2008:2). The implementation of these strategies or their individual elements determines the character of the changing/emerging welfare systems and thereby the importance and role of the third sector as their important structural element. It is not to be ignored that within individual systems different strategies or even elements of the strategies were applied in different socio-political fields thus creating the impression of ad-hoc solutions that are becoming institutionalised.

Our primary aim is therefore to search for and explain the interdependence among changes in entire welfare systems and changes in the importance, character and the role of third sector organisations in Central and Eastern European societies. We intend accomplish our goal by tackling the following or similar questions: Which strategies or their individual elements form the basis of socio-political reforms/changes in individual fields? Which social actors are the initiators and creators of the reforms/changes? How have the actors changed over the last 15 years? To what extent has the proportion changed between third sector organisations which are primarily service providers and those which operate for the common good of its members (i.e. expressive organisations) over the last 15 years? What is the position of third sector organisations in the hierarchy of sectors that provide individual types of services? What is the character of third sector organisations (is it determined by the operating principle of organisations and by the instruments that are applied)? What is the role of third sector organisations in the overall welfare system and regarding the relationship with users/citizens?

Abstract submission and key dates

An abstract of no more than 300 words has to be submitted before the 1st of November 2008 to WP46 responsible (see below). Notices of acceptance will be sent out by the 15th of November 2008. The final papers are due to be distributed by the 20th of January 2009.

Participants

The conference is open to all members of the CINEFOGO Network as well as to other interested colleagues.

Venue and organizer

The conference will be held at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Kardeljeva ploščad 5, Ljubljana, Slovenia. For more information, please visit www.fdv.uni-lj.si. The conference will be organized by the Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS-UL) – WP46 responsible within the CINEFOGO Network of Excellence on Civil Society and New Forms of Governance in Europe.

Costs

There will be no conference fee. The organizer will take care of accommodation (2 nights max), while travel costs have to be covered by each participant/institution.

Contact and further information

Do not hesitate to ask for any further information:

prof. Zinka Kolarič (NC), e-mail: zinka.kolaric@fdv.uni-lj.si

Tomaž Deželan (NC assistant), e-mail: tomaz.dezelan@fdv.uni-lj.si

Tatjana Rakar (NC assistant), e-mail: tatjana.rakar@fdv.uni-lj.s

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