4. A Functional Definition of the Third Sector Organisation
4.3. Inter-sectoral relationships: the Third Sector - State relationship
Having discussed this classification of different sectors, it is important to recognise that they do not operate independently, since significant inter-sectoral relationships exist.
This section focuses on what, for the purpose of this thesis, is the most important of these relationships; that between the Third Sector and the State. This relationship takes three key forms:
Firstly, it has already been noted earlier in this chapter, that Third Sector Organisations can act as an intermediary body to feedback the concerns of their members and
supporters to the Government - it is clear that this is one important form of relationship between the Third Sector and the State, and of particular importance to campaign groups who may use the concerns of their members and supporters to legitimise their
campaigning for public policy change.
Secondly, a Third Sector Organisation may attempt to change public opinion through public oriented campaigning on their own concerns; so that public conceptions of public goods, are aligned with that organisation’s private conception of public goods. By doing
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so they may hope to have an impact on Government policy, making this a Third Sector-State relationship, mediated by the public.
Thirdly, the Third Sector can have an important role in providing services on behalf of the State. Where the objectives of the Third Sector Organisation, are in line with those of the State, it may be the case that a Third Sector Organisation is best placed to deliver services which the State wishes to provide. In such cases they may be contracted to provide those services.
Finally, the State may sometimes use Third Sector Organisations to deliver its messages and change public opinion. This may happen when it is felt that a TSO would be a more trusted or appropriate voice than the Government. As well as through formal
partnerships, this process may also occur in more subtle ways. For instance by choosing which organisations and programmes to fund, or through other forms of support, the State can shape the public-facing activities of TSOs. It will be seen in the following chapter how State support has been given to campaigning on UK child poverty through the End Child Poverty Coalition, and support for the ‘Keep the Promise’ rally.
The ways in which the Third Sector and the State interact will be discussed in more detail throughout the rest of this thesis.
5. Conclusion
The purpose of this chapter has been to construct some of the arguments against a structural/operational definition of TSOs, and to put the key arguments for a functional approach to their classification. The functional definition developed here is only
suggested as an example, showing that, contrary to Salamon and Anheier’s assertions, a functional theory may have economy and real significance.
The idea of using a functional definition of the sector will be both utilised, and further explored in later chapters of this thesis. This will be done in two key ways:
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The definition of Third Sector Organisations explored above will inform the sample selection methodology.
The functional definition of the Third Sector Organisation explored above will be used in the sample selection methodology for the fieldwork of this project, as outlined in the methodology chapter. In practice this means that the ‘purpose’ of organisations, will be considered prior to their inclusion in the sample.
Organisations in the sample may be considered to serve private conceptions of the public good if the stated aim of the organisation (which may be assessed from their website, annual report, statement to the charity commission etc) suggests an organisational purpose which is for the benefit of the public (rather than the organisation’s own benefit) and is determined ‘privately’ (i.e. is not appointed by some publicly elected body.)
In reality, although their inclusion would have been for different reasons, all the organisations selected in the sample may well have also been considered Third Sector Organisations under the structural/operational definition.
The thesis will further explore the relation of the ‘public space’ occupied by the Third Sector to that of the State.
This chapter has defined the Third Sector and the State according to the distinct functions which it is proposed that they serve. Some organisations, such as Quangos, form a grey area between the two. The chapter has also noted the potential relations which exist between these two spheres, highlighting for example, how the Third Sector can form a
‘feedback link’ between the public and the Government. These crucial inter-sectoral relationships will be further explored throughout the thesis, with particular reference to the nature of Government-Third Sector relationships within the policy process.
The thesis will further explore the significance of both organisational ‘function’ and
‘structure’ to how Third Sector Organisations campaign on child poverty.
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This chapter has explored the importance of both the function and the
structure/operations of organisations. Both are clearly important to understanding the nature TSOs in general, and can be used to help to explain why Third Sector Organisations campaign in the ways in which they do.
This issue is picked up in Chapter 6, which explores the significance of organisational functions and structures to understanding Third Sector campaigning on child poverty.
Having defined the sector, the following chapter moves on to consider its history within the field of study- looking at detail at the historical role of the Third Sector in the relief of poverty in the UK. This addresses a key part of the context necessary to understand current Third Sector campaigning on UK Child Poverty.
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