News

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are experiencing significant public and academic

attention, especially as suppliers of social cohesion, promoters of active citizenship and

safeguards of the common and greater good in society through their special characteristics

and values. Following, CSOs have been championing their contribution as the rescuer/savior

not just of the traditional welfare state but also of national cohesion as such.

However, CSOs do not by definition create social cohesion and contribute to the common

good. Recently researchers have shown that many voluntary-based associations, cooperatives,

mutual funds, philanthropic organizations, transnational advocacy groups and, more recently,

social entrepreneurs, have purposes closely related to their particular interest and are not

necessarily directed towards a common good (Alexander, 2006; Frantz & Fuchs, 2014). Even

though their legitimizations and justifications often are articulated as a collective engagement

towards the making of a “better society” and a willingness to contribute to the “Greater

Good” linked to positive characteristics of Civil Society, one cannot just study these

organizations and associations as good per se (Dekker, 2014)...

Deadlines (see more on the full call):

• November 30th 2017. Deadline for submitting full manuscripts to guest editors on

.

• February 5th 2018. Reply and short comments on accepted articles by guest editors

• April 1st 2018 accepted articles must be revised and submitted to Voluntas