Civic Responsibility and Patterns of Voluntary Participation Around the World

Abstract

This article seeks to explain why different types of volunteer organizations are prevalent in different countries. It hypothesizes that patterns of volunteer participation are a function of citizen attitudes toward governmental and individual responsibility for caring for society. Those countries (e.g., Japan)—where citizens think that governments should be responsible for dealing with social problems—will tend to have higher participation in embedded volunteer organizations, such as parent-teacher associations. Those countries (e.g., the United States)—where citizens think that individuals should take responsibility for dealing with social problems—will tend to have more participation in nonembedded, organizations, such as Greenpeace. These hypotheses are tested statistically using membership data from eight organizations in 68 countries. Alternative explanations, such as levels of income, education, urbanization, and prevalence of working women, are also tested. Citizen attitudes about individual and governmental responsibility are best able to explain the prevalence of different types of volunteer organizations found in different countries.

Managerial and leadership implications of the retained duty system in English fire and rescue services

“…Thus in Japan, for example, where traditional forms of volunteering are enduring (Haddad 2007), citizens believe government should deal with social problems, whereas in the USA citizens believe individuals should take responsibility. This leads her to suggest that citizens' attitude to individual and collective responsibility "are best able to explain the prevalence of different types of volunteer organisations found in different countries" (Haddad 2006 p1220).…”

The public service-motivated volunteer devoting time or effort: a review and research agenda

“…Civic duty is not a passive state of citizenship, but requires the individual to do things within their community (Janoski et al 1998). However, as in Haddad's (2006) study, civic duty could be represented by volunteering in public safety organisations such as volunteer firefighters, civil protection, etc.…”

“…National differences may play a large role. Haddad (2006) examined patterns of why different types of voluntary organisations were more successful in USA and Japan based on attitudes towards civic duty.…”

The long-term reform in the Netherlands: what is the scientific rational for the WMO?

“…The rate increased slightly between 2007 and 2010, including in the area of care [11,13]. People take on voluntary work for their own personal development first and foremost, rather than from altruistic motives [14][15][16]. However, Linders argues that there is a difference in motivation to engage in voluntary work within intimate networks (next of kin) as opposed to less intimate networks (e.g.…”