The third sector and the global economic recession

Citation

Powell, J.L. and Chen, S. (2016), "The third sector and the global economic recession", International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Vol. 36 No. 7/8. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSSP-05-2016-0061

The third sector and the global economic recession

Article Type: Guest editorial From: International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Volume 36, Issue 7/8.

This special issue puts the social policy spotlight on the third sector and the global economic recession. The array of seven papers explores this inter-relationship and levels of impact on different nation states across the world. Since 2008, to the present and given the complex nature of the world in which we live the economic crises has had a lasting legacy. The articles presented give intimation to the complexity of the crises and impact at differential levels within the nation state, the nation state itself, the European Union and global arena.

In totality, the papers presented have illuminated how the “third sector” including non-state and non-market organisations – such as non-governmental organisations, voluntary organisations, and community groups and explored the problems they have in comparative perspective. They have raised very critical interpretations to two important questions: first, what are the limits to the roles of third sector organisations with limited resources? Second, are third sector issues affected by country, institutions, policy, period, areas of activity and global economic recession?

The first paper by Egidio Riva and Emma Garavaglia explore cooperatives in Italy in the context of the global economic recession and assess the impact on its sustainability.

The second paper by Jamie Halsall, Ian G. Cook and Paresh Wankhade explores the voluntary sector in its global context. They provide a number of important implications for research in this area from their compelling narrative.

The third paper is from the work of Netta Sagie, Miri Yemini and Ullrich Bauer who examine the comparative analysis of non-governmental organisations in Israel and Germany drawing on rich policy implications.

Consolidating this with more detailed comparative focus is the fourth paper in the special issue is by Hafiz T.A. Khan and Twyeafur Rahman. Their paper critically explores women's participation in economic and NGO activities in Bangladesh. The paper gives an empirical overview on the Bangladesh Demography and Health Survey to ground their analysis.

The fifth paper is by Joseph Downing. He explores the impact of the economic recession in a particular case study in France with important theoretical and policy issues illuminated.

The sixth paper of the special issue is an interesting piece by Cristina Parente. This paper explores social entrepreneurship in the location of Portugal and assesses the policy implications for researching the third sector.

The final paper is by Ulla Pape, Rafael Chaves-Avila, Joachim Benedikt Pahl, Francesca Petrella, Bartosz Pieliński and Teresa Savall-Morera. In their work, they explore the impact of third sector development across Europe. They point to rich policy issues that emanate from their original piece of research.

We hope and envisage that you find the papers in this special issue to be inspiring and thought provoking on one of the most pressing issues of our time.

Jason L. Powell - Faculty of Social Science, University of Chester, Chester, UK

Sheying Chen - Pace University, New York, New York, USA