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... > social science subjects > sociology > sociology of organizations, institutions and structure > communities (sociology) > activism and social transformation > voluntary associations
... > social science subjects > psychology > social psychology > interpersonal relationships > human relationships > social context of relationships > social capital > voluntary associations
... > social science subjects > sociology > social interaction > human relationships > social context of relationships > social capital > voluntary associations
... > social science subjects > sociology > social theory > micro-interactionist theory > social interaction > human relationships > social context of relationships > social capital > voluntary associations
... > social science subjects > psychology > social psychology > group dynamics > group influence > power (sociology) > types of power > social capital > voluntary associations

Preferred term

voluntary associations  

Definition

  • Voluntary associations, as a category of social organization, are most often defined by what they are not: They are nonkinship, nongovernmental, nonprofit, and noncoercive groups. More positively described, they are collectivities with a group identity and voluntary membership, organized according to some form of common interest or purpose, that carry out or fund a set of activities such as training, socializing, discussion, analysis, planning, leisure, ceremony, worship, community service, fund-raising, lobbying, or political action, with a goal of providing some benefit for the members, a client group, or the wider society. [Source: Encyclopedia of Community: From the Village to the Virtual World; Voluntary Associations]

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URI

https://concepts.sagepub.com/social-science/concept/voluntary_associations

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