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A Third Sector in the Third Millennium?
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 January 2026
Abstract
Three trends since the 1960s underscore the need for different ways of conceptualizing the new mixed economy in the human services. First, there has been an enormous increase in the number and types of nonprofit organizations, and greater dependence on governmental revenue. Second, extensive growth in privatization and commercialization in the human services. Third, this culminated in the convergence and blurring of sectoral boundaries. Numerous metaphors have been suggested to describe these new patterns, but more suitable concepts and theories are needed. Four theoretical frameworks are analyzed for an intersectoral study of organizations in the same industry: (1) political economy, (2) organizational ecology, (3) neoinstitutionalism, and (4) mixed, open systems. As analytic paradigms, these frameworks could supplement, complement, or be integrated with other research models for third sector studies, and could contribute to theory building and social policy.
Résumé
Depuis les années 60, trois tendances soulignent la nécessité de conceptualiser de différentes façons la nouvelle économie mixte des services aux personnes. On a observé (a) une croissance considérable du nombre et du type d’organisations sans but lucratif et une dépendance de plus en plus importante vis-à-vis des financements publics; ainsi que (b) l’extension de la privatisation et de la commercialisation des services aux personnes, aboutissant (c) à une certaine convergence en brouillant les frontières sectorielles. De nombreuses métaphores ont été utilisées pour décrire ces nouveaux modèles, mais des concepts et des théorie plus appropriées sont nécessaires. Quatre cadres théoriques sont analysés pour une étude intersectorielle d’organisations intervenant dans le même domaine d’activité: l’économie politique, l’écologie organisationnelle, le néo-institutionalisme et les systèmes mixtes. En tant de paradigmes analytiques, ces cadres théoriques peuvent s’ajouter, compléter ou être intégrés à d’autres modèles destinés à des études sur le tiers secteur et contribuer ainsi à la construction théorique et aux politiques sociales.
Zusammenfassung
Drei Trends seit 1960 unterstreichen die Notwendigkeit, andere Wege zur Konzeptualisierung der neuen gemischten Wirtschaft der sozialen Dienste zu finden. Es gibt 1.) einen enormen Anstieg der Anzahl und Typen von gemeinnützigenOrganisationen und eine größere Abhängigkeit von staatlicher Finanzierung; 2.) eine umfassende Zunahme von Privatisierung und Kommerzialisierung der sozialen Dienste, die ihren Höhepunkt in 3.) der Annäherung und Verwischung der Sektorgrenzen erlebt. Viele Metaphern wurden vorgeschlagen, um diese neuen Muster zu beschreiben, aber es werden geeignetere Konzepte und Theorien gebraucht. Vier theoretische Systeme werden für eine intersektorale Studie von Organisationen in derselben Industriesparte analysiert: politische Ökonomie, Organisationsökologie, Neo-Institutionalismus und gemischte, offene Systeme. Als analytische Paradigmen können sie andere Forschungsmodelle für Studien des Dritten Sektors ergänzen, vervollständigen oder in sie integriert werden und zur Theoriebildung und Sozialpolitik ihren Beitrag leisten.
Resumen
A partir de la década de los 60 surgen tres tendencias que recalcan la necesidad de encontrar formas diferentes de conceptualizar la nueva economía mixta en lo que respecta a los servicios humanos. Se ha producido (1) un enorme incremento en el número y tipos de organizaciones sin propósito de lucro, y una mayor dependencia de las rentas gubernamentales; (2) un vasto crecimiento en la privatización y comercialización de los servicios humanos, culminando en (3) la convergencia de los límites sectoriales y haciendo que éstos se vuelvan confusos. Se han sugerido numerosas metáforas para describir estos nuevos modelos, pero se precisan conceptos y teorías más apropiados. Analizamos cuatro marcos teóricos para un estudio intersectorial de las organizaciones de una misma industria: economía política, ecología organizativa, neoinstitucionalismo, y sistemas abiertos mixtos. En tanto que paradigmas analíticos, podrían suplir, complementar o integrarse a otros modelos de investigación para estudios del tercer sector, y contribuir al desarrollo de la teoría y a la política social.
Information
- Type
- Research Article
- Information
- Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations , Volume 11 , Issue 1 , March 2000 , pp. 1 - 23
- Copyright
- Copyright © 2000 International Society for Third-Sector Research and The Johns Hopkins University
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