Epävirallisen sektorin ja hyvinvointivaltion suhteiden tarkastelua

Abstract

This research aims to discuss how the relationships between the informal sector and the welfare state vary in different welfare state constellations and in different stages of modernization. On the one hand I approach it from an international comparative perspective of informal (third, nonprofit, non-governmental, voluntary) sector in various types of welfare states. On the other hand I analyze the research target on the level of activating citizens' participation, especially on the field of social work. By analysing the Finnish 1980's debate on voluntary activities, I show that the expanding systems of public social services and social work do not necessarily reduce the scope but mould the contents of the voluntary sector. The special definition of the position and tasks of voluntary activities allowed for a consensus between the state-dominated Nordic system of social policy and a modern active civil society. The different stages (or types) of relationships between the informal sector and the welfare state can be interpreted through ideal-typical categories of the premodern, modern and reflexive modern. The institutionally organised modern Finnish informal sector is closely integrated to public institutions through systematic cooperation. Since the beginning of the 1990's, the economic depression influences the relationships and questions anew their stability. A more self-organised type of citizen's activities is emerging and the overloaded professionals are more pleased than reserved about it. The new, shared predicament gives way to a more egalitarian (reflexive) cooperation between the actors from both sectors. The combined resources in the intermediate area between the sectors seems to respond to the complex challenges at its best. However, due to uncertainty and shifts, the relationships can also develop in a more diffuse direction.