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No 2007:34:
You Can Dance if you want To: Modes and Roles of Civil Society Organising

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Andrew O’Regan and Gemma Donnelly-Cox ()
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Andrew O’Regan: Trinity College, Postal: Centre for Nonprofit Management, School of Business, Trinity College , Dublin, Ireland
Gemma Donnelly-Cox: Trinity College, Postal: Centre for Nonprofit Management, School of Business, Trinity College , Dublin, Ireland

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to explore the multiple roles of civil society organisations (CSOs) and to present an empirically and theoretically derived role taxonomy. Data from 15 Irish longitudinal case studies, plus a review of the generic organisation theory literature are employed in the development of the role classification.

Civil society organisations may be conceptualised as fulfilling multiple and sometimes conflicting roles in society. When portrayed in the mode of entrepreneurial, innovative social change agents, their role in identifying and addressing new social needs is highlighted. They are instrumental in changing values in society – but also in maintaining and renewing value systems.

Civil society organisations that that function as mature organisational actors can play an instrumental role in service delivery, often in partnership with the State. However, this most staid of roles is one that draws great concern about collusive partnerships and dangerous liaisons for civil society organisations.

Shifting attention to individual engagement in civil society allows us to explore how CSOs provide channels for active involvement and participation of citizens. Moving our attention entirely to the domain of the individual actor allows us to conceive of civil society as providing a ‘space’ for the social construction of individual meaning.

A taxonomy of roles that presents roles within three modes – innovating, organising and engaging individuals – is derived from case data and from the organisation theory literature. The cases comprise longitudinal (1997-present) studies of 15 Irish civil society organisations. The organisations include recently founded, long established and highly institutionalised entities. The conceptual contributions are drawn primarily from open system theories of organisation.

Keywords: Modes; roles; civil society organizations; taxonomy; longitudinal case studies; Ireland

1 pages, July 16, 2007

Note: Abstract submitted to EGOS-Colloquium 2007, Vienna, Austria, July 4-7, 2007

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RePEc:hhh:senior:2007_034 This page was generated 2009-11-02 09:56:55