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Nonprofits’ Organizational Practices and Their Contributions to Communities and Democracy

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The Interplay of Civic Engagement and Institutionalised Politics

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Third Sector Research ((PSTSR))

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Abstract

In today’s democratic malaise, characterized by decreasing voter turnouts and party memberships and by landslide victories of populists of any kind, nonprofit organizations (NPOs) are sometimes perceived as beacons of hope. One of their societal roles is to serve as schools of citizenship and democracy. Being involved as members, volunteers, employees, or beneficiaries of NPOs is associated with a greater willingness and capability to advocate for their interests and contribute to community building. However, these roles may be threatened by NPOs’ tendency to rationalize and professionalize their management. Therefore, we ask the following research questions: How are NPOs’ societal roles shaped by their organizational practices? How does NPOs’ use of management and democratic practices relate to their endorsement of public participation? To answer these questions, we analyze survey data from a random sample of NPOs in the Vienna metropolitan region and use structural equation modeling. Previously, debates about business-like approaches endangering NPOs’ democratic functions have mostly been based on conceptual arguments and qualitative data. With our quantitative evidence, we present ideas that point in a different direction: Both kinds of organizational practices—managerial and democratic—relate positively with NPOs’ emphasis on their democratic and political functions.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    More nuanced report on the methodology is submitted for publication (Hohensinn et al., 2023; Terzieva et al., 2023).

  2. 2.

    The publications containing more details on measurement and analysis are currently submitted for publication (Hohensinn et al., 2023; Terzieva et al., 2023).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Nonprofit Management, WU Vienna University of Economics and Business, Vienna, Austria

    Michael Meyer, Christian Burkart, Leila Cornips, Julia Litofcenko, Florentine Maier, Lisa Hohensinn & Berta Terzieva

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  1. Michael Meyer
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  2. Christian Burkart
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  3. Leila Cornips
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  4. Julia Litofcenko
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  5. Florentine Maier
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  6. Lisa Hohensinn
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  7. Berta Terzieva
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Correspondence to Michael Meyer .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Heidelberg University, Centre for Social Investment and Innovation (CSI), Research Centre at the Max Weber-Institute of Sociology (CSI), Heidelberg, Germany

    Adalbert Evers

  2. Center for Civil Society Research, Marie Cederschiöld University College, Stockholm, Sweden

    Johan von Essen

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Meyer, M. et al. (2024). Nonprofits’ Organizational Practices and Their Contributions to Communities and Democracy. In: Evers, A., von Essen, J. (eds) The Interplay of Civic Engagement and Institutionalised Politics. Palgrave Studies in Third Sector Research. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-54231-2_12

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