Issue 1, 2004   

Modernization Potential for Volunteering

Joachim Raschke: A New Self-Invention for the Greens? 2004 - Between Modernization and Hesitation, FJ NSB 1/2004, pp. 9-16

Joachim Raschke discusses the prospects for the green party in 2004 and suggests a communication strategy. The party would maximize its chances for the up coming elections in several Länder by combining ecologic-cultural issues and questions of justice. In the realm of economy the can loose but never win voters' sympathy. They have to bridge the gap between those who want to modernize and those who are critical of modernization trends (' critical modernizers'). Broad issues like ecology, civil society and sustainability should be presented accordingly.

Hans Oswald: Political Identity and Youth Volunteering, FJ NSB 1/2004, pp. 17-24

Young people pay little attention to politics compared to other areas of life. Interpreting this as disinterestedness is misleading. Many young people develop dispositions for political interest and activism early on. The article focuses on the role of volunteering for youth. In America volunteering is interwoven in school activity and therefore widespread. If this activity deals with disadvantaged it furthers political interest and preparedness for political action. This relation is similar in Germany though volunteering is less widespread. As young people are usually prepared to become active there is tremendous potential.

Sebastian Braun: Rediscovering Volunteering in Times of Crisis, FJ NSB 1/2004, pp. 26-35

A political as well as scientific discussion rediscovered volunteer organizations. Four tendencies, often labelled as crises, have lead to a rediscovery of volunteering and volunteer organizations: crisis of social systems, crisis of labour society, crisis of social integration and crisis of democracy. Volunteer organizations might be a resource to handle these problems. The author points out the gaps in social research on these strategies.

Eckhard Priller: Competing Concepts of Volunteering in Longitudinal Perspective, FJ NSB 1/2004, pp. 36-44

Looking at volunteering over a long period three main - partly contradictory - tendencies are suggested in literature: First a crisis scenario which describes a decline in volunteering. Second a scenario of structural change which argues for changes in the main interest areas while overall volunteering increases. Finally, a cycle scenario when volunteering follows ups and downs. Empirical research, focusing on number of organizations, membership and volunteering, shows that a decrease of volunteering can only be found in a few areas. However, the influence of some structural changes remains unclear and future changes are possible.

Ingo Bode/Adalbert Evers/Andreas Schulz: Public Labour Programmes as Social Policy?, FJ NSB 1/2004, pp. 45-53

Publicly funded employment agencies are primarily an instrument of labour policy. Their role for civil society and the non-profit sector has scarcely been at the focus of research and public debate. The concept of establishing a "second labour market" by public funding and re-integrating unemployed by working on local needs is not en vogue anymore. However, employment agencies have the potential to combine civil society as well as economic and social aims. They might be a way out of the employment crisis. Starting from a theoretical point of view the article presents also empirical data to outline the potential of employment agencies in Germany. Current labour policy is threatening these agencies.

Ulrike Schumacher: Volunteering and the Crisis of Labour Society, FJ NSB 1/2004, pp. 54-61

Based on qualitative interviews among environmental activists in Berlin, Ulrike Schumacher outlines the potential of volunteering for a sustainable labour society. Individual combinations of labour and volunteering are presented. The daily practice of actors show up potentials to improve circumstances of volunteering in several areas. This will be a general political task which supports the integrative function of voluntary organizations.

Sebastian Braun/Stefan Hansen: Social and Political Integration by Volunteer Organizations?, FJ NSB 1/2004, pp. 62-69

In the context of social capital and citizen competencies, voluntary organizations are discussed as agents for social and political integration. The authors argue that volunteer organizations have the potential for integrating society. They distinguish internal and external integration of voluntary organizations and discuss on this background theoretical and empirical gaps. Some preliminary empirical results are presented.

Maria Berger/Ruud Koopmans: Citizenship, Ethnic Networks and Political Integration of Turks in Amsterdam and Berlin, FJ NSB 1/2004, pp.

The discussion on social capital distinguishes between bridging and bonding social capital to point out the different effects of social networks especially concerning the integration of ethnic minorities and other groups, or the disintegrative phenomena. Based on their comparative study of Turks in Amsterdam and Berlin the authors argue that ethnic associations contribute to the political integration of migrants and to the 'bridging social capital'. They do not necessarily lead to disintegrated 'parallel societies'. However, individual rights are more important than collectives rights for integration. Thus the authors are sceptical concerning the Dutch integration policy which focuses on collective rights. However, support for migrant associations seems crucial for integration.

Thomas Leif: Soft Issue - Soft Policy? Why Support for Volunteering Remains Marginal, FJ NSB 1/2004, pp. 80-87

2001 was the 'International Year of Volunteering' and the German parliament (Bundestag) had a Commission on the 'Future of Volunteering'. However, attention for the issue was only short. Framing volunteering as a 'soft issue' hinders a consequent policy supporting engagement. Support for voluntary organizations will necessarily lead to conflicts with established actors. Structural changes, e.g. the abolishment of community service as an alternative to military service and demographic developments, lead to a use of volunteering as a stopgap. A thoroughly designed concept of volunteering-policy would handle these problems in advance, especially by supporting the infrastructure. Such a policy is currently out of sight.

Wolf-Dietrich Brettschneider: Much Ado About Nothing? Reception of ‚Youth Work in Sport Associations: Claim And Reality', FJ NSB 1/2004, pp. 88-93

The author of the Paderborn study on youth work in sport associations reviews the reception of his study. After summarizing the main results he describes how sport organizations, politics and media took up the findings. Some explanations for the reactions are presented. Key issues such as the stagnation of motor ability and drug consumption remain virulent.

Thomas Klie/Hans Hoch/Paul-Stefan Roß: New Tracks for Associations in Civil Society?, FJ NSB 1/2004, pp. 93-97

In 2003 started a research project on the role of associations and volunteering in civil society. The authors present the design of the study and some preliminary results. The voluntary associations are still able to regenerate themselves with a combination of tradition and modernization: they are open for new forms of volunteering but defend the traditional form of charitable work. Networks beyond the own organization are scarce but they are open for cooperation. They are looking for joint activity with economic enterprises but its more aim than reality.

Thomas Leif: The Dark Side of Parliamentarianism - How Lobbyism Threatens the Democratic System, FJ NSB 1/2004, pp. 100-102

Lobbyists are gaining influence rapidly. Never before they had similar chances of influence, never before they acted as offensively. The close connections between lobbyists and members of parliament is a main deficit of the parliamentary independence. Lobbyists have no democratic legitimation, they hide their activities. They sell information up to complete legislation to the government bureaucracy and have grown to the 'fifth power'.