Helmut K. Anheier

Bio: Helmut K. Anheier is an academic researcher from University of California, Los Angeles. The author has contributed to research in topics: Civil society & Economic sector. The author has an hindex of 50, co-authored 247 publications receiving 10985 citations. Previous affiliations of Helmut K. Anheier include Johns Hopkins University & Hertie School of Governance.

Social Origins of Civil Society: Explaining the Nonprofit Sector Cross-Nationally

Abstract: Recent research has usefully documented the contribution that nonprofit organizations make to “social capital” and to the economic and political development it seems to foster. Because of a gross lack of basic comparative data, however, the question of what it is that allows such organizations to develop remains far from settled. This article seeks to remedy this by testing five existing theories of the nonprofit sector against data assembled on eight countries as part of the Johns Hopkins Comparative Nonprofit Sector Project. The five theories are: (a) government failure/market failure theory; (b) supply-side theory; (c) trust theories; (d) welfare state theory; and (e) interdependence theory. The article finds none of these theories adequate to explain the variations among countries in either the size, the composition, or the financing of the nonprofit sector. On this basis it suggests a new theoretical approach to explaining patterns of nonprofit development among countries—the “social origins” approach—which focuses on broader social, political, and economic relationships. Using this theory, the article identifies four “routes” of third-sector development (the liberal, the social democratic, the corporatist, and the statist), each associated with a particular constellation of class relationships and pattern of state-society relations. The article then tests this theory against the eight-country data and finds that it helps make sense of anomalies left unexplained by the prevailing theories.

Defining the nonprofit sector : a cross-national analysis

Abstract: The growth of the non-profit, voluntary or third sector has been widely recognized throughout the world. This text seeks to provide a definition and a common classification of the non-profit sector, while recognizing the great diversity of voluntarism internationally. The remainder of the text is devoted to country-by-country definitions of the sector in 13 representative states from the developed, developing and post-socialist worlds. Among the countries covered are: USA, UK, France, Germany, Japan, India, Brazil, Egypt and Hungary. The study demonstrates that the division of societies into public and private is too simplistic, and that a third sector with its own characteristic features and dynamics has already emerged as a powerful force in the global economy.

The Sociology of Nonprofit Organizations and Sectors

Abstract: Interest in and research on nonprofit organizations and sectors have developed rapidly in recent years. Much of this work by sociologists has focussed on particular subsectors rather than on nonprofits as a class. This review attempts to extract from a large and varied literature a distinctively sociological perspective on nonprofits, which it contrasts to influential work in economics. Two questions—“Why (and where) are there nonprofit organizations” and “What difference does nonprofitness make?”—are addressed at the levels of organization, industry, and firm. Three central conclusions, each with research implications, emerge from this review: (a) The origins and behavior nonprofit organizations reflect institutional factors and state policies as well as the social-choice processes and utility functions emphasized by economists. (b) Understandingth e origins of nonprofit sectors and behavioral differences between nonprofits and for-profit or government organizations requires an industry-level ecological ...

In search of the non-profit sector. I: The question of definitions

Abstract: In this paper we argue that the lack of attention to the third sector historically is primarily a result of the weakness and limitations of the concepts that are used to define and describe it. The purpose of this article is to remedy this situation by developing a general definition of the sector that can be used in comparative research. To do so, the article first identifies four alternative types of definitions that are potentially available and evaluates each in terms of three basic criteria. On this basis it concludes that the most useful definition is the ‘structural/operational’ one, which includes in the non-profit sector organisations that share five basic characteristics. These are: formal, private, non-profit-distributing, self-governing and voluntary. The basic definition is then tested against the realities of three disparate countries and found to perform quite well. On this basis we recommend the structural/operational definition, particularly for comparative, crossnational research.

Nonprofit Organizations: Theory, Management, Policy

Abstract: Part I: Studying Nonprofit Organizations 1. Studying Nonprofit Organizations 2. Historical Background 3. Concepts Part II: Dimensions 4. Dimensions I: Overview 5. Dimensions II: Specific Fields 6. Giving, Philanthropy and Foundations 7. Civic Engagement Part III: Approaches 8. Theories of Nonprofit Organizations 9. Approaches to Giving and Philanthropy 10. Studying Civic Engagement, Volunteering and Social Entrepreneurship Part IV: Managing Nonprofit Organizations 11. Organizational Behavior and Performance 12. Management Models and Tools 13. Financing Nonprofit Organizations 14. Leadership and Human Resources 15. Governance, Accountability, and Transparency 16. State-Nonprofit Relations Part V: Current Issues and Developments 17. International Aspects and Globalization 18. Policy Issues and Developments Chapter 1 This introductory chapter presents an overview of the range of nonprofit institutions, organizations and activities. The chapter briefly surveys the intellectual and political history of the study of nonprofit organizations, and states some of the key intellectual, practical and policy-related issues involved. It also discusses how the field relates to the various social science disciplines, and shows its interdisciplinary nature. Finally, the chapter includes a description of the objectives and structure of the book by offering brief chapter summaries. Chapter 2 This chapter introduces the historical background to the development of the US non-profit sector in the context of the wider civil society, and then compares the American experience to other countries. It shows the path dependency of the nonprofit sector and the development of distinct types of nonprofit regimes. The chapter also links the historical study of the nonprofit sector to notions of state-society relations, forms of democracy, economic development, and community. Chapter 3 This chapter discusses the various types of activities (volunteering, giving, civic engagement, advocacy, service provision), organizations (charities, foundations, associations, social enterprises) and institutions (charity, philanthropy, social economy community, solidarity) that make up, or relate to, the nonprofit sector, and looks at the various attempts to define the area between the market, state and household sectors. The chapter also explores how the nonprofit sector relates to the concept of civil society and the social economy, to social capital approaches, and to terms such as social investment, social entrepreneurship, and the social economy. Chapter 4 In a first section, this chapter presents an overview of the size, composition, revenue structure and role of the nonprofit sector in the US. The chapter also considers the place of the nonprofit sector within the mixed economy of quasi-public goods as well as the wider economy. In a second section, the chapter presents an overview of the size, composition, revenue structure and role of the nonprofit sector in other parts of the world (the UK, EU, Canada, Australia, etc.) and places the US nonprofit sector in comparative perspective. Chapter 5 This chapter introduces the nonprofit sector in the context of selected fields of activity and examines in particular how nonprofit organizations compare in scale and scope to the other two major institutional complexes of modern society: the public sector and the market. The chapter also suggests a number of challenges and opportunities facing nonprofit organizations in each field of activity. Chapter 6 This chapter first looks at the dimensions of individual giving in the US and other countries. Then, following a brief overview of the history of institutional philanthropy and how the modern foundation evolved over the centuries, the chapter presents an empirical overview of different types of foundations and other forms of philanthropy (donor advised funds, strategic philanthropy, etc.), and surveys their size, activities and development over time, both in the United States and other countries. Chapter 7 In a first section, this chapter offers a sociological portrait of civic engagement, including volunteering, social participation, and caring behavior in the US and other parts of the world. The chapter looks at both the extent and the patterns of civic engagement, and how these relate to the nonprofit sector and social capital. The chapter also introduces data demonstrating the link between nonprofit organizations, civic engagement and notions of social trust and cohesion. Chapter 8 This chapter offers an overview of various economic, sociological and political science approaches that address the origins, behavior, and impact of nonprofit organizations. It compares these approaches with one another, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses, and points to new and emerging theoretical developments. Chapter 9 This chapter introduces different perspectives on giving and philanthropy in modern society, in particular the roles and contributions that have been suggested in the literature about the role of philanthropy in the US and other parts of the world, in particular Europe. Why do individuals make donations, why do foundations exist, what functions do foundations perform, and what has been their impact? Chapter 10 This chapter first offers an overview of theories of civic engagement and volunteering. Why do people volunteer? What motivates them to become active in local communities what accounts for social participation, community building, etc.? The chapter will discuss sociological and economic approaches to civic engagement and volunteering, before, in a second part, reviewing the various forms of social entrepreneurship. The chapter will then address why social entrepreneurship is important and why it comes about, and offer an overview of current approaches. Chapter 11 This chapter looks at organizational theory and its contributions to understanding non-profit organizations. The chapter also explores the factors involved in shaping the development of nonprofit organizations over time. It then examines more specific aspects of organizational structure and sets the stage for the presentation of different management approaches. It examines the functions and contributions of nonprofit organizations in different fields and explores if, and under what conditions, they perform distinct tasks. This includes a discussion of performance measurement models and approaches. The chapter ends with a brief introduction to the organizational ramifications of alliances and mergers. Chapter 12 The chapter reviews the background to nonprofit management. It introduces a normativeanalytical management approach based on the notion that nonprofits are multiple stakeholder organizations. The chapter then reviews a number of basic management tools and issues with an emphasis on strategic management and planning techniques appropriate for nonprofits. Chapter 13 Introducing different business models and revenue generating strategies, this chapter offers an overview of how and for what nonprofit organizations use financial resources for achieving their objectives. The chapter reviews various revenue strategies for nonprofits, including fund-raising. The chapter concludes with an introduction to financial management and the development of business plans. Chapter 14 In a first part, this chapter offers an overview of the theory and practice of leadership in nonprofit organizations from a multiple stakeholder perspective. The remainder of the chapter presents an overview of human resources management in the nonprofit sector, with emphasis on both paid employees and volunteers. Chapter 15 This chapter is in two parts. First, the chapter explores the special requirements that arise for governance, accountability and transparency from a multiple stakeholder perspective. Against this background, the chapter considers the governance of nonprofit organizations reviews the role of the board, and the relationship between the board and management examines the different forms of accountability and explains the role of transparency. Chapter 16 This chapter considers the different models and types of relationships non-profit organizations have with the state in terms of funding and contracting, regulation, and consultation. The chapter also discusses the advantages and disadvantages of relations with governmental bodies and explores different forms of public-private partnerships. Chapter 17 This chapter examines the internationalization of the nonprofit sector in the context of globalization and explores some of the reasons for the significant expansion of cross-border activities. Next, the chapter focuses on the management of international nongovernmental organizations and other types of nonprofits that operate across borders. Chapter 18 This chapter first refers back to Chapters 1 and 2, taking a more comparative-historical look at macro-level changes that have affected and will continue to affect the nonprofit sector over time, in particular the supply and demand conditions for nonprofit development. Next, the chapter looks at the impact of the 2008-12 financial and economic crises and explores their implications from the perspective of organizational theory. In a closing section, the chapter returns to broader, long-term issues and explores different scenarios for the future of the nonprofit sector.

Social Capital: Its Origins and Applications in Modern Sociology

Abstract: This paper reviews the origins and definitions of social capital in the writings of Bourdieu, Loury, and Coleman, among other authors. It distinguishes four sources of social capital and examines their dynamics. Applications of the concept in the sociological literature emphasize its role in social control, in family support, and in benefits mediated by extrafamilial networks. I provide examples of each of these positive functions. Negative consequences of the same processes also deserve attention for a balanced picture of the forces at play. I review four such consequences and illustrate them with relevant examples. Recent writings on social capital have extended the concept from an individual asset to a feature of communities and even nations. The final sections describe this conceptual stretch and examine its limitations. I argue that, as shorthand for the positive consequences of sociability, social capital has a definite place in sociological theory. However, excessive extensions of the concept may j...

Social Capital: Prospects for a New Concept

Abstract: A growing number of sociologists, political scientists, economists, and organizational theorists have invoked the concept of social capital in the search for answers to a broadening range of questions being confronted in their own fields. Seeking to clarify the concept and help assess its utility for organizational theory, we synthesize the theoretical research undertaken in these various disciplines and develop a common conceptual framework that identifies the sources, benefits, risks, and contingencies of social capital.

Framing Processes and Social Movements: An Overview and Assessment

Abstract: ■ Abstract The recent proliferation of scholarship on collective action frames and framing processes in relation to social movements indicates that framing processes have come to be regarded, alongside resource mobilization and political opportunity processes, as a central dynamic in understanding the character and course of social movements. This review examines the analytic utility of the framing literature for un- derstanding social movement dynamics. We first review how collective action frames have been conceptualized, including their characteristic and variable features. We then examine the literature related to framing dynamics and processes. Next we review the literature regarding various contextual factors that constrain and facilitate framing processes. We conclude with an elaboration of the consequences of framing processes for other movement processes and outcomes. We seek throughout to provide clarifi- cation of the linkages between framing concepts/processes and other conceptual and theoretical formulations relevant to social movements, such as schemas and ideology.

Bowling alone: The collapse and revival of American community

Abstract: The present historical moment may seem a particularly inopportune time to review Bowling Alone, Robert Putnam's latest exploration of civic decline in America. After all, the outpouring of volunteerism, solidarity, patriotism, and self-sacrifice displayed by Americans in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks appears to fly in the face of Putnam's central argument: that \"social capital\" -defined as \"social networks and the norms of reciprocity and trustworthiness that arise from them\" (p. 19)'has declined to dangerously low levels in America over the last three decades. However, Putnam is not fazed in the least by the recent effusion of solidarity. Quite the contrary, he sees in it the potential to \"reverse what has been a 30to 40-year steady decline in most measures of connectedness or community.\"' As an example of how the current \"war on terrorism\" could generate a durable civic renewal, Putnam points to the burst in civic practices that occurred during and after World War II, which he says \"permanently marked\" the generation that lived through it and had a \"terrific effect on American public life over the last half-century.\" 3 If Americans can follow this example and channel their current civic