Voluntary Organizations in the Democratic Polity: Managing Legitimacy, Accountability and Trust

Abstract

Relatively highly trusted by citizens, voluntary organizations are attractive to government as it seeks to revitalize the democratic polity. However, as voluntary organizations reposition within the polity in ways that could give stronger influence, it becomes an imperative that more problematical aspects of this engagement are acknowledged by all stakeholders. A critical account of the sector during this period of change will allow fundamentally important questions surrounding legitimacy, accountability, and trust to be confronted.