Discourse of volunteerism in a changing world

Laden YurttagülerNetwork Project

15.11.2013

Content of the Presentation

Why or how , after the 1980s, the number and the impact of the CSOs have increased globally?

How is volunteering defined in different periods since the 1980s?

What are the opportunities and obstacles for and/or due to the volunteering for the disadventegous groups – young people - ?

Discourse of volunteerism in a changing world

1980s have witnessed two important developments:◦ Changes in the social welfare states◦ Changes in the regimes

◦ Minimizing the «social welfare state» «Thatcher and Reagan policies»

f.e. Health, education, accommodation/housingIf not state then the market if not the market then NGOs?

In 1970: 52 International NGOsIn 1994 419 in USA (USAID, 1995)In 1980 1600 northern international aid CSOIn 1990 more than 2500 including OXFAM, CARE, Medecins San Frontieres (OECD, 1993)

Breaking Points for/of Volunteering

◦Democratization around the world 1989 collapse of the Soviet Union1989 fall of the Berlin WallDemocratization in Latin America countries after military coupsCitizens «call on duty» for the transparency, control, monitor of the (representative) democracy Re-considering the social contract / citizenship

Breaking Points for/of Volunteering

Citizenship as a concept◦ Citizenship and rights◦ T.H. Marshall : «status» - equal and full membership

civil, political and social rights : holistic Who is providing social rights? Citizenship and rights

◦ Citizenship and «activity»◦ Kymlicka and Norman : «status + belonging + activity»

Equality and social contract Activity : representative and/or participatory democracy

VOLUNTEERING for service or advocacy?

Citizenship and Civil Society

• 1980 military coup in Turkey : limited/restricted civil activities

• 1982 constitution banned/limited civil initiatives• 23.700 association to be closed down• Union members: 5.721.074 in 1980 to 1.711.254 in

1985• 1983 law: association under police control • At the end of the 1980s and beginning with the 1990s:

Human Rights Association in 1986, Purple Roof Woman Shelter Foundation in 1990, History Foundation in 1991, TEMA 1992, Helsinki Citizens Association in 1992 and AÇEV in 1993.

Turkey, CSOs and 1980s – 1990s

Change in the constitution, article 33 – freedom of association

During 1990s – formation of the terminology◦ History Foundation – Civil Society Symposiums from

1994 – 2004; CSO or Third Sector Organization? ◦ Habitat-II - concept of governance◦ 1999 earthquake – language + volunteering

Turkey, CSOs and 1990s

Who is volunteer – who is not? ◦ Legal status – diversification◦ Member or not?◦ What about money?

◦ The CSOs need a space to discuss and need technical support Bilgi NGO (2003) + CSDC (STGM) (2002)

Turkey, CSOs and 2000s

◦ Service Providing CSOs and Volunteering: Meeting with the «other» (service providing or

advocacy CSOs) Model development : empowerment of the target

group Sustainability of the service providing CSOs Relation between the service providing CSOs and

target group Is there a hierarchical relation between the service

provider and the target group? Working with the disadvantageous groups: is it

«good» for volunteers or target group? Volunteers yet not experts ...

Volunteering and Change

◦ Volunteering for advocacy Being a volunteer or an activist? Coordination of volunteers – borrowin a term

from the Management literature «management of the volunteers»... Acceptable???

Are the volunteers only «unpaid» labor or decision makers in the CSOs? Who has the right to decide for the CSO? In-organization democracy – possible?

Volunteering and Change

After the 2000s: Volunteering as a citizenship duty or not? ◦ Corporate social responsibility◦ Social responsibility projects/courses and young

people: Does volunteering become a compulsory activity? For cv or for grade?

◦ Is volunteering empowering for young people?◦ Can young people decide in the CSOs?◦ “Activism vs. volunteering” artificial or not?

Volunteering – what now?