Founded in 1992, ISTR is a global community of scholars, policymakers, and third sector leaders dedicated to the creation, discussion, and advancement of knowledge pertaining to the Third Sector and its impact on civil society, the welfare state, and public policy.

In this era of far-reaching changes in the way that societies are organized, the Third Sector is playing a critical role and has significantly gained importance in many countries. Democratization and the role of civil society in social integration and participation are in the spotlight throughout the world. New media, social networks and other technological innovations raise new opportunities and challenges for organizing collective action and the diversity of civil society. Marketization and its impact on the Third Sector is attracting renewed research interest as welfare budgets are cut and the role of nonprofits is called into question in difficult fiscal times. In many nations including Scandinavia, for-profit health and social welfare organizations are actively competing with third sector organizations for public funding. A second type of marketization is also attracting attention particularly the growth of corporate social responsibility (CSR), the emergence of social enterprises and changing philanthropic paradigms. Social innovation and the role of third sector organizations as vehicles for innovation and more effective programs continue to receive widespread international attention. These profoundly important trends call for research to inform scholars and practitioners on the implications of these trends for theory, policy and practice.

ISTR’s Twelfth International Conference in Stockholm, Sweden offers an excellent opportunity for further dialogue on these and other changes in an environment of rigor, reflexivity, dialogue, and creativity. Sweden has a very long tradition of voluntary associations that have had a significant impact on public policy. While their public services remain reliant on local government, the rise of for-profit providers has challenged the traditional Scandinavian welfare state model and raised questions on the future role of the third sector. Thus, the 2016 conference will be occurring in the context of a widespread debate and re-examination of the traditional Social-Democratic welfare state model. This ongoing debate resonates with the debate through Europe, North America and Asia on the increasing competitive environment for third sector organizations and the implications of heightened expectations for performance, transparency, and accountability.

Paper, poster, roundtable, and panel proposals are invited in response to the overall conference focus as they relate to the many, diverse and interconnected theme areas that are characteristic of third sector research. For the purposes of the ISTR International Conference, the third sector is broadly defined, including, for example: NGOs, non-profit organizations, voluntary associations, social economy organizations, community organizations, self-help and mutual organizations, civil society organizations, foundations, philanthropy, and other manifestations of civil society globally and locally, for example networks and social forums, unions, religious organizations, co-operatives, and volunteering.

Retrouver toutes les informations sur le site de l'International Society for Third Sector Research.