Key research themes
1. How do economic recessions and policy restructurings impact third sector organizations (TSOs) across different European contexts?
This research theme investigates the effects of global economic crises, particularly the 2007 recession, on the development, financing, and operational strategies of TSOs in Europe. It emphasizes variations across countries with differing welfare state models and policy environments, examining how austerity, shifts in public funding, and welfare restructuring influence TSOs’ capacity, sector stability, and response behaviors. Understanding these dynamics is crucial as TSOs play vital roles in welfare provision and civic engagement, making their resilience a key factor in social cohesion during economic downturns.
2. What roles and challenges does the third sector face in public service delivery and advocacy under neoliberal governance and policy shifts?
This theme explores the evolving position of TSOs as public service providers amid neoliberal governance reforms characterized by marketization, outsourcing, and regulatory pressures. It addresses how TSOs engage with public contracts, respond to outcomes-based commissioning, and navigate tensions between service delivery, organizational missions, and advocacy roles. Additionally, it examines the repression of advocacy within TSOs in politically conservative contexts, analyzing implications for pluralist democracy and civil society’s capacity to influence policy.
3. How can the university third mission and transdisciplinary research advance third sector engagement, community capabilities, and inclusive governance?
This research theme addresses the evolving role of universities in societal engagement through their third mission activities, including entrepreneurship, community capabilities building, and sustainability-oriented transdisciplinary research. It examines how universities collaborate with community stakeholders and the third sector to co-produce knowledge and development outcomes, emphasizing dynamic interactive capabilities and inclusive governance approaches. The theme also highlights training and capacity-building initiatives that foster open science, interdisciplinary collaboration, and social inclusion within third sector and academic partnerships.