Norway : Defining the Voluntary Sector

Abstract

In this report, a picture of how the voluntary sector is conceptualised in Norway is presented. How do traditional and national understanding of the role and functions of voluntary associations compare to those of the international society? The most central historical concepts are reviewed and the authors examine how these have been altered as a result of political and ideological changes.The report also give a picture of the historical and legal background of associations and how they have been categorised in Norwegian society. The national self-understanding of the role of associations is compared to the internasjonal classification scheme of nonprofit organisations. Does this scheme reflect aspects that are regarded essential within the Norwegian context? The report is part of the Norwegian contribution to The Johns Hopkins Comparative Nonprofit Sector Prosject, a comparative analysis of nonprofit sector in more than 30 countries all over the world.