| The Ages of Voluntarism: How We Got to the Big Society Contributor(s): Hilton, Matthew (Editor), McKay, James (Editor) |
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ISBN: 0197264824 ISBN-13: 9780197264829 Publisher: British Academy OUR PRICE: $26.55 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: September 2011 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - History | Europe - Great Britain - General - Social Science | Volunteer Work |
| Dewey: 361.370 |
| LCCN: 2011410413 |
| Series: British Academy Original Paperbacks |
| Physical Information: 0.5" H x 6.1" W x 9.1" (0.90 lbs) 202 pages |
| Themes: - Cultural Region - British Isles |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: In May 2010, Britain's new Coalition government embarked on its journey to the Big Society. But how did we reach this point? Politicians and commentators have long bemoaned the supposed decline of civic life, fretting about its health and its future. In fact, the real story of voluntarism over the last hundred years has not been decline, but constant evolution and change. Whether we use the terms charity, philanthropy, civil society, non-governmental organisations, the third sector or the Big Society, voluntary endeavour is one of the most vibrant and dynamic areas of British public life. The senior, established and exciting new scholars featured in this collection show how the voluntary sector's role in society, and its relationship with the state, has constantly adapted to its surroundings. They have raised new agendas, tackled old problems in new ways, acted as alternatives to statutory provision and as catalysts for further government action. Voluntary groups have emerged out of citizens' concerns, independent of government and yet willing to work with politicians of all persuasions. By surveying the sheer extent and diversity of the sector since the start of the First World War, this volume demonstrates that voluntarism not only continues to thrive, but is also far larger than any political agenda that may be imposed upon it. |