Abstract
The non-profit sector arising in Poland and Hungary bears little resemblance to its pre-war ancestors. The new non-profits are shaped by social and economic forces brought about by the state socialists. State socialist service policies have left the non-profits with substantial need for their services, but the organisations face several major constraints in meeting that demand. Current government policies towards services and non-profits are discussed. Government and foreign funders can play a significant role in fostering the new non-profits, but a careful prioritisation of objectives is necessary. The present situation shows that many theories about non-profit organisations are not internationally cross-applicable, although several hypotheses have partial relevance.
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The author recently submitted a longer version of this paper to the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. He is currently studying in the School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University, New York.
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Wunker, S.M. The promise of non-profits in Poland and Hungary: an analysis of third sector renaissance. Voluntas 2, 89–107 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01398672
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01398672