Conference on the role of third sector organisations in Central and Eastern European countries, Ljubljana, Slovenia
A conference on 'The role of third-sector organisations in changing welfare systems in Central and Eastern European countries' will take place in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on 5 and 6 February 2009. It is organised by the EU-funded CINEFOGO ('Civil society and new forms of governance in Europe - the making of European citizenship') Network of Excellence.
Third sector organisations (i.e. organisations in the voluntary or non-profit sector) in Central and Eastern European Countries reveal similar characteristics that simultaneously distinguish them from third sector organisations in other societies. These inward similarities and outward differences can be explained in the context of the state-socialist type of welfare system that prevailed in these societies for almost half a century.
There has been a 'boom' in the development of third sector organisations after the system change. However, the third sector in these countries is still heavily ambiguous. Moreover, despite the general similarities there are striking differences in the level of development and characteristics of third sector organisations that emerged in a relatively short period in these societies.
The primary aim of the conference is to search for and explain the interdependence among changes in entire welfare systems and changes in the importance, character and the role of third sector organisations in Central and Eastern European societies.For further information, please visit:
http://www.cinefogo.org/workpackages/wp46/wp46-conference-2009/