The Third Sector and the Regional Development of Social Capital

Abstract

Birch K. and Whittam G. The Third Sector and the regional development of social capital, Regional Studies. There is a growing academic and policy interest in the Third Sector and its potential impact on regional development. A key aspect of the Third Sector is its role in regional development through the promotion of social capital. However, there is considerable debate around the definition of the Third Sector that limits one's understanding of its impact. The paper first disentangles a number of ambiguities to clarify the distinctions between the concepts before then exploring the relationship between the regional development of social capital and the various aspects of the Third Sector. Finally, UK policy agendas and initiatives are considered in light of the earlier discussion.

Birch K. et Whittam G. Le secteur tertiaire et le développement régional du capital social, Regional Studies. Le monde universitaire et la politique s'intéressent de plus en plus au secteur tertiaire et à son impact potentiel sur le développement régional. Un aspect majeur du secteur tertiaire est son rôle dans le développement régional par la promotion du capital social. Le secteur tertiaire reste toutefois l'objet d'un débat considérable qui limite notre compréhension de son impact. Dans cet article, nous commençons par démêler un certain nombre d'ambiguïtés pour préciser la distinction entre les concepts avant, dans un deuxième temps, d'explorer les relations entre le développement régional du capital social et les divers aspects du secteur tertiaire. Enfin, nous analysons les programmes et les initiatives de la politique du Royaume-Uni à la lumière des précédentes discussions.

Secteur tertiaire Économie sociale Entreprise sociale Entreprenariat social Capital social Développement régional

Birch K. und Whittam G. Der Dritte Sektor und die Regionalentwicklung von Sozialkapital, Regional Studies. Wissenschaft und Politik interessieren sich zunehmend für den Dritten Sektor und seine potenzielle Auswirkung auf die Regionalentwicklung. Ein zentraler Aspekt des Dritten Sektors ist seine Rolle in der Regionalentwicklung durch die Förderung von Sozialkapital. Allerdings gibt es eine beträchtliche Debatte hinsichtlich der Definition des Dritten Sektors, wodurch unser Verständnis seiner Auswirkung eingeschränkt wird. In diesem Beitrag beseitigen wir zunächst verschiedene Unklarheiten, um die Unterschiede zwischen den Konzepten zu erläutern. Anschließend untersuchen wir die Beziehung zwischen der Regionalentwicklung des Sozialkapitals und den verschiedenen Aspekten des Dritten Sektors. Zuletzt erörtern wir die politischen Agenden und Initiativen in Großbritannien im Hinblick auf die frühere Diskussion.

Dritter Sektor Sozialwirtschaft Sozialunternehmen Soziales Unternehmertum Sozialkapital Regionalentwicklung

Birch K. y Whittam G. El Tercer Sector y el desarrollo regional del capital social, Regional Studies. Existe un creciente interés académico y político en el Tercer Sector y su posible efecto en el desarrollo regional. Un aspecto fundamental del Tercer Sector es la función que desempeña en el desarrollo regional mediante el fomento del capital social. Sin embargo, existe un debate significativo acerca de la definición del Tercer Sector que limita nuestra capacidad para entender sus repercusiones. Por ende aquí esclarecemos una serie de ambigüedades para clarificar las diferencias entre los conceptos antes de explorar la relación entre el desarrollo regional del capital social y los diferentes aspectos del Tercer Sector. Concluimos con un análisis del programa y las iniciativas políticas en el Reino Unido con respecto a la discusión anterior.

Tercer sector Economía social Empresa social Empresariado social Capital social Desarrollo regional

Keywords:

• Third Sector
• Social economy
• Social enterprise
• Social entrepreneurship
• Social capital
• Regional development

JEL Classifications:

• L3
• R0
• R5
• R58

Acknowledgements

Earlier versions of this paper were presented at the 2005 Regional Studies Association annual conference as well as at the 2007 CPPR Seminar Series. The paper benefited from discussions at these events as well as the specific comments of Andrew Cumbers, Katherine Trebeck, and the anonymous referees on earlier drafts. The usual disclaimers apply.

Notes

1. Reid and Griffith (2006, p. 2) even write about a ‘quadruple’ bottom line consisting of economic, social, ecological, and community empowerment goals.

2. Moulaert and Ailenei (2005) suggested that the English-speaking literature has largely ignored the role of not-for-profit organizations such as producer or consumer cooperatives, which represent more Continental European organizational types.

3. Some argue that government policies such as the new Community Interest Company legal form are actually driven by enabling access to finance rather than promoting stakeholder models of governance (Lindsay and Hems, 2004, p. 283).

4. See http://adbusters.org/metas/politico/antipreneur/forum/ (accessed June 2006).

5. One of the anonymous referees emphasized the point that the diversity of concepts ‘cannot and should not be eradicated’.

6. More recently, the UK government has sought to downplay the role of the Third Sector in public services reform (Brindle, 2006).

7. See http://www.futurebuilders-england.org.uk/content/QuestionsandAnswers1/-article_37_25.aspx?iid = 78 (accessed April 2007).

8. The UK government announced a new scheme in December 2006 called the Community Assets Fund. This established a £30 million fund to promote the transfer of local authority assets to Third Sector organizations in order to ‘increase the community ownership or management of assets, to enable community organisations to be successful and independent in the way they respond to local needs, strengthen cohesion and promote wellbeing’ (OTS, 2007, p. 2).