Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Changing Policy Environments in Europe and the Resilience of the Third Sector

VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations volume 31, pages 238–249 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

In the article, we analyse the impact of changing policy environments on the development of the third sector in Europe. Based on the results of systematic comparative research in eight European countries (Austria, Croatia, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the UK), we identify commonalities and differences. In a three-step analysis, we examine policy changes, effects on the third sector and responses by third sector organizations (TSOs) in the social domain. Overall, the third sector in Europe has proven resilient. However, not only have public and private funding decreased, the process for acquiring such funding has become more demanding for TSOs, as have requirements to be accountable. There are signs of a proliferation of more market-based, hybrid organizations. Despite this general trend towards marketization, the impact of policy changes varies across Europe with TSOs being better equipped to adapt and survive in countries where collaborative ties between the state and the third sector have traditionally been strong.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Notes

  1. More information on the research design, the methods for data collection and analysis, the empirical data, the national reports and the participating institutions and individual researchers can be found on the project website: Third Sector Impact, https://thirdsectorimpact.eu/ (accessed 9 November 2018).

References

  • Aidukaite, J. (2009). Old welfare state theories and new welfare regimes in Eastern Europe: Challenges and implications. Communist and Post-Communist Studies,42, 23–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anheier, H. K., & Krlev, G. (2014). Welfare regimes, policy reforms, and hybridity. American Behavioral Scientist,58(11), 1395–1411.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Archambault, E., Priller, E., & Zimmer, A. (2014). European civil societies compared: Typically German—Typically French? VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations,25(2), 514–537.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arts, W., & Gelissen, J. (2010). Models of the welfare state. In F. G. Castles, S. Leibfried, J. Lewis, H. Obinger, & C. Pierson (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of the welfare state. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baglioni, S. (2017). A remedy for all sins? Introducing a special issue on social enterprises and welfare regimes in Europe. VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations,28(6), 2325–2338.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bertelsmann Stiftung, Stiftung für die Deutsche Wissenschaft, & Fritz Thyssen Stiftung (Eds.) (2012). ZIVIZ-Survey 2012: Instrument und erste Ergebnisse, Berlin.

  • Bežovan, G., Matančević, J., & Baturina, D. (2016). National Report Croatia. https://thirdsectorimpact.eu/. Accessed 22 Jan 2019.

  • Bode, I., & Brandsen, T. (2014). State-third sector partnerships: A short overview of key issues in the debate, introduction to the special issue on state-third sector partnerships. Public Management Review,16(8), 1055–1066.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brandsen, T., & Helderman, J. K. (2012). The trade-off between capital and community: The conditions for successful co-production in housing. VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations,23(4), 1139–1155.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brandsen, T., & Pape, U. (2015). The Netherlands: The paradox of government-nonprofit partnerships. VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations,26(6), 2267–2282.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brandsen, T., Pape, U., Duarte Ebers, E., & ten Hulscher, E. (2016). National Report The Netherlands. https://thirdsectorimpact.eu/. Accessed 22 Jan 2019.

  • Chaves-Avila, R., Alguacil-Mari, P., Gemma Fajardo-Garcia, I., & Savall-Morera, T. (2016). National Report Spain. https://thirdsectorimpact.eu/. Accessed 22 Jan 2019.

  • Chaves-Avila, R., & Zimmer, A. (Eds.). (2017). El Tercer Sector en España y en Europa. Crisis y resiliencia. Valencia: PUV.

    Google Scholar 

  • Claessens, S., Dell’Ariccia, G., Igan, D., & Laeven, L. (2010). Cross-country experiences and policy implications from the global financial crisis. Economic Policy,62, 267–293.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clifford, D. (2017). Charitable organisations, the great recession and the age of austerity: Longitudinal evidence for England and Wales. Journal of Social Policy,46(1), 1–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CNCRESS. (2014). Économie sociale et solidaire. Montreuil: CNCRESS. http://www.cncres.org. Accessed 22 Jan 2019.

  • CNCRESS. (2017). Atlas commenté de l’économie sociale et solidaire 2017. Montreuil: CNCRESS. http://www.cncres.org. Accessed 22 Jan 2019.

  • Cook, L. (2010). Eastern Europe and Russia. In F. G. Castles, S. Leibfried, J. Lewis, H. Obinger, & C. Pierson (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of the welfare state. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Domaradzka, A. (2018). Urban social movements and the right to the city: An introduction to the special issue on urban mobilization. VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations,29, 607–620.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Enjolras, B., Salamon, L. M., Sivesind, K. H., & Zimmer, A. (Eds.). (2018). The third sector as a renewable resource for Europe. Concepts, impacts, challenges and opportunities. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Esping-Andersen, G. (1990). The three worlds of welfare capitalism. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evers, A. (2005). Mixed welfare systems and hybrid organizations: Changes in the governance and provision of social services. International Journal of Public Administration,28(9–10), 737–748.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evers, A., & Laville, J. L. (Eds.). (2004). The third sector in Europe. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferrera, M. (2010). The south European countries. In F. G. Castles, S. Leibfried, J. Lewis, H. Obinger, & C. Pierson (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of the welfare state (pp. 616–629). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fligstein, N., & McAdam, D. (2011). Toward a general theory of strategic action fields. Sociological Theory,29(1), 1–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fligstein, N., & McAdam, D. (2012). A theory of fields. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Fundación Lealtad. (2013). Las ONG españolas ante la crisis (2007–2013). Análisis de la evolución de las ONG de la Guía de la Transparencia. Madrid: Fundación Lealtad.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grohs, S. (2014). Hybrid organizations in social service delivery in quasimarkets: The case of Germany. American Behavioral Scientist,58(11), 1425–1445.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grohs, S., & Bogumil, J. (2011). Management sozialer Dienste. In A. Evers, R. G. Heinze, & T. Olk (Eds.), Handbuch Soziale Dienste (pp. 299–314). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Henriksen, L. S., Smith, S. R., & Zimmer, A. (2015). Welfare mix and hybridity. Flexible adjustments to changed environments. Introduction to the special issue. VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations,26(5), 1591–1600.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kendall, J. (2000). The mainstreaming of the third sector into public policy in England in the late 1990s: Whys and wherefores. Policy & Politics,28(4), 541–562.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kendall, J. (2003). The voluntary sector: Comparative perspectives in the UK. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kendall, J. (2009). The UK: Ingredients in a hyperactive horizontal policy environment. In J. Kendall (Ed.), Handbook on third sector policy in Europe: Multi-level processes and organized civil society (pp. 67–94). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Kendall, J., & Knapp, M. (1996). The voluntary sector in the UK. Manchester: Manchester University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kendall, J., Mohan, J., & Brookes, N. (2016). TSI policy briefing UK. http://thirdsectorimpact.eu/. Accessed 22 Jan 2019.

  • Kendall, J., Mohan, J., Brookes, N., & Yoon, Y. (2018). The English voluntary sector: How volunteering and policy climate matter. Journal of Social Policy. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0047279418000107.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lane, P. (2012). The European sovereign debt crisis. Journal of Economic Perspectives,26(3), 49–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leś, E., Nałęcz, S., & Pieliński, B. (2016). National Report Poland. https://thirdsectorimpact.eu/. Accessed 22 Jan 2019.

  • Macmillan, R., & Kendall, J. (2019). The moving frontier and beyond: The third sector and social policy. Social Policy Review 31, Bristol: Policy Press.

  • Macmillan, R., Taylor, R., Arvidson, M., Soteri-Proctor, A., & Teasdale, S. (2013). The third sector in unsettled times: A field guide. TSRC working paper 109. Birmingham: Birmingham University.

  • Maier, F., Meyer, M., & Steinbereithner, M. (2016). Nonprofit organizations becoming business-like. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly,45(1), 64–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maier, F., Schober, C., Simsa, R., & Millner, R. (2015). SROI as a method for evaluation research: Understanding merits and limitations. VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations,26(5), 1805–1830.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Monzón, J. L., & Chaves, R. (2017). Recent evolutions of the social economy in the European Union. Brussels: Economic and Social Committee.

    Google Scholar 

  • More-Hollerweger, E., Simsa, R., Kainz, G., Neunteufl, F., Grasgruber-Kerl, R., & Wohlgemuth, F. S. (2014). Civil Society Index—Rahmenbedingungen für die Zivilgesellschaft in Österreich. Vienna: NPO&SE-Kompetenzzentrum. http://gemeinnuetzig.at/. Accessed 22 Jan 2019.

  • Nałęcz, S., Leś, E., & Pieliński, B. (2015). Poland: A new model of government–nonprofit relations for the east? VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations,26(6), 2351–2378.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pape, U., Chaves-Ávila, R., Pahl, J. B., Petrella, F., Pieliński, B., & Savall-Morera, T. (2016). Working under pressure: Economic recession and third sector development in Europe. International Journal of Sociology and Social policy,36(7/8), 547–566.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pennerstorfer, A., Schneider, U., & Badelt, C. (2013). Der Nonprofit Sektor in Österreich. In R. Simsa, M. Meyer, & C. Badelt (Eds.), Handbuch der nonprofit-organisation (5. überarb. Aufl., pp. 55–75). Stuttgart: Schäffer Poeschel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pestoff, V. (2014). Hybridity, coproduction and third sector social services in Europe. American Behavioral Scientist,58(1), 1412–1424.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petrella, F., & Richez-Battesti, N. (2016). National Report France. https://thirdsectorimpact.eu/. Accessed 22 Jan 2019.

  • Petrella F., Richez-Battesti N., Laurent A., Chanut-Guieu C., & V. Lhuillier V. (2014). La construction sociale de la qualité dans les services d’accueil collectif du jeune enfant. Pluralité de modèles d’organisation et enjeux de gouvernance, Politiques sociales et familiales (pp. 39–52), n°116, juin 2014.

  • Pollitt, C., & Bouckaert, G. (2011). Public management reform. A comparative analysis: New public management, governance, and the Neo-Weberian State (3rd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Priemer, J., Labigne, A., & Krimmer, H. (2015). Weniger Subsidiarität, mehr Wettbewerb in der Zivilgesellschaft? ZiviZ-Finanzierungsstudie 2015. Berlin: ZiviZ. http://www.ziviz.info/. Accessed 22 Jan 2019.

  • Priller, E., Alscher, M., Droß, P., Paul, F., Poldrack, C., Schmeißer, C., et al. (2012). Dritte-Sektor-Organisationen heute: Eigene Ansprüche und ökonomische Herausforderungen, Discussion Paper SP IV 2012–402. Berlin: WZB.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salamon, L. M., & Anheier, H. K. (1998). Social origins of civil society: Explaining the nonprofit sector cross-nationally. VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations,9(3), 213–248.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salamon, L., & Sokolowski, S. (2016). Beyond nonprofits: Re-conceptualizing the third sector. VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations,27(4), 1515–1545.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salamon, L. M., Sokolowski, S. W., & Haddock, M. A. (2017). Explaining civil society development: A social origins approach. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salamon, Lester M., et al. (1999). Global civil society. Dimensions of the nonprofit sector. Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seibel, W. (2015). Welfare mixes and hybridity: Analytical and managerial implications. VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations,26(5), 1759–1768.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simsa, R. et al. (2014). Methodological guideline for impact assessment. https://thirdsectorimpact.eu/. Accessed 22 Jan 2019.

  • Simsa, R., Herndler, M., & Simic, Z. (2016). National Report Austria. https://thirdsectorimpact.eu/. Accessed 22 Jan 2019.

  • Simsa, R., & More-Hollerweger, E. (2013). Die Entwicklung von Rahmenbedingungen für NPOs und ihre MitarbeiterInnen. Wirtschafts- und Sozialpolitische Zeitschrift,36(3), 170–174.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stone, M. M., & Sandfort, J. R. (2009). Building a policy fields framework to inform research on nonprofit organizations. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly,38(6), 1054–1075.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suter, P., & Gmür, M. (2018). Volunteer engagement in housing co-operatives: Civil society “en miniature”. VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations,29, 770–789.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tchernonog, V. (2013). Le paysage associatif français. Paris: Dalloz Juris Associations.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tzifakis, N., Petropoulos, S., & Huliaras, A. (2017). The impact of economic crises on NGOs: The case of Greece. VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations,28(5), 2176–2199.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vincetić, V., Babić, Z., & Baturina, D. (2013). Definiranje područja i potencijal razvoja socijalnog poduzetništva hrvatske u komparativnom kontekstu. Ekonomski pregled: mjesečnik Hrvatskog društva ekonomista Zagreb,64(3), 256–278.

    Google Scholar 

  • Von Schnurbein, G., Perez, M., & Gehringer, T. (2018). Nonprofit comparative research: Recent agendas and future trends. VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations,29, 437–453.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weitemeyer, B. (2014). Eine neue Gemeinnützigkeit? Organisations- und Rechtsformen von Nonprofit-Organisationen. In A. Zimmer & R. Simsa (Eds.), Forschung zu Zivilgesellschaft, NPOs und Engagement: Quo vadis? (pp. 41–62). Wiesbaden: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Witkamp, M. J., Royakkers, L. M. M., & Raven, R. P. J. M. (2011). From cowboys to diplomats: Challenges for social entrepreneurship in The Netherlands. VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations,22(2), 283–310.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Witmer, H., & Mellinger, M. (2016). Organizational resilience: Nonprofit organizations’ response to change. Work-A Journal of Prevention Assessment & Rehabilitation,54(2), 255–265.

    Google Scholar 

  • Young, D. (1998). Commercialism in nonprofit social service associations: Its character, significance, and rationale. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management,17(2), 278–297.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zamora-Kapoor, A., & Coller, X. (2014). The effects of the crisis: Why Southern Europe? The American Behavioral Scientist,58(12), 1511–1516.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zimmer, A., Gärtner, J., Priller, E., Rawert, P., Sachße, C., Graf Strachwitz, R., et al. (2004). The legacy of subsidiarity: The nonprofit sector in Germany. In A. Zimmer & E. Priller (Eds.), Future of civil society (pp. 681–711). Wiesbaden: VS-Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Zimmer, A., Rentzsch, C., Pahl, B., & Hoemke, P. (2016). National Report Germany. http://thirdsectorimpact.eu/. Accessed 22 Jan 2019.

Download references

Funding

This study received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) for research, technological development and demonstration under Grant Agreement No. 613034.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Otto Suhr Institute of Political Science, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Ulla Pape

  2. Institute for Management Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Taco Brandsen

  3. Institut für Politikwissenschaft, University of Münster, Münster, Germany

    Joachim Benedikt Pahl, Christina Rentzsch & Annette Zimmer

  4. Faculty of Political Science and International Studies, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland

    Bartosz Pieliński

  5. University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

    Danijel Baturina & Jelena Matančević

  6. Personal Social Services Research Unit, University of Kent, Kent, UK

    Nadia Brookes

  7. IUDESCOOP and Department of Applied Economics, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain

    Rafael Chaves-Ávila & Teresa Savall-Morera

  8. School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research, University of Kent, Kent, UK

    Jeremy Kendall

  9. CNRS, LEST, Aix-Marseille University, Aix-en-Provence, France

    Francesca Petrella & Nadine Richez-Battesti

  10. Vienna University of Economics and Business, Vienna, Austria

    Ruth Simsa

Authors
  1. Ulla Pape
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Taco Brandsen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Joachim Benedikt Pahl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Bartosz Pieliński
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Danijel Baturina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Nadia Brookes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Rafael Chaves-Ávila
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Jeremy Kendall
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Jelena Matančević
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Francesca Petrella
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Christina Rentzsch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Nadine Richez-Battesti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. Teresa Savall-Morera
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. Ruth Simsa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  15. Annette Zimmer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ulla Pape.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Pape, U., Brandsen, T., Pahl, J.B. et al. Changing Policy Environments in Europe and the Resilience of the Third Sector. Voluntas 31, 238–249 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-018-00087-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-018-00087-z

Keywords

search

Navigation