Understanding the Emerging Fourth Sector and Its Governance Implications

Authors

  • Mikko Rask Consumer Society Research Centre, University of Helsinki, Finland
  • Alisa Puustinen Emergency Services Academy Finland
  • Harri Raisio School of Management, University of Vaasa, Finland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58235/sjpa.v24i3.8599

Keywords:

fourth sector, hybrid organizations, civic activism, self organization, one-to-one aid, governance issues

Abstract

The fourth sector has traditionally been described as encompassing families, households, neighbours, and friends, however, competing definitions have recently begun to emerge. Three different strands can be observed in the fourth-sector literature. The first strand centres on the notion of one-to-one aid. The second strand centres on self-organizing civic activism. The third strand focuses on hybrid organizations. In this paper we will analyse the main commonalities and differences in the understanding of the fourth sector. Our conclusion is that despite differences, there is enough ‘family resemblance’ between the three different streams of fourth-sector discussion to warrant a synthetic reflection of the governance issues related to this novel phenomenon. As a result of that analysis, we distinguish five specific governance issues that are related to 1) the ability of the public sector to work upon shared values, 2) the empowering nature of self-organizing, 3) the need for new operational rules under the ‘sharing economy’, 4) the transitory but structuration-oriented nature of fourth-sector processes and 5) the notion that fourth-sector involvement does not necessarily improve the quality of participation.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Mikko Rask, Consumer Society Research Centre, University of Helsinki, Finland

Mikko Rask, PhD, is Principal Investigator and Adjunct Professor at the Consumer Society Research Centre, University of Helsinki. He explores and develops practices of co-creation and public deliberation in the governance of research, innovation and environment. His latest co-authored book includes Public Participation, Science and Society (Routledge, 2018).

Alisa Puustinen, Emergency Services Academy Finland

Alisa Puustinen, PhD, is a Senior Researcher at the Emergency Services Academy Finland. Her research has focused on social networks, complexity sciences, public deliberation, military sociology and security studies. She has published in journals such as Emergence: Complexity and Organisation, Complexity, Governance and Networks, and Public Administration Quarterly.

Harri Raisio, School of Management, University of Vaasa, Finland

Harri Raisio, PhD, is a Senior Researcher in Social and Health Management at the University of Vaasa and Adjunct Professor at the University of Eastern Finland. His research has focused on the topics of wicked problems, complexity sciences, and public deliberation. He has published in journals such as Landscape and Urban PlanningPolicy Sciences, Administration & Society and Journal of Health Organization and Management.

Downloads

Published

2020-09-15

How to Cite

Rask, M., Puustinen, A., & Raisio, H. (2020). Understanding the Emerging Fourth Sector and Its Governance Implications. Scandinavian Journal of Public Administration, 24(3), 29–51. https://doi.org/10.58235/sjpa.v24i3.8599

Issue

Section

Original Articles

Similar Articles

<< < 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.