Peer-reviewed article
Volunteering in Sweden and the Discourse of Change: Historical Trends and Theoretical Explanations
2026von Essen, J., Henrekson, E., & Lundberg, E.Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations
What is this study about?
The study examines how voluntary work in Sweden has developed over more than three decades and tests the notion that people's ways of engaging are undergoing a fundamental change. Using recurring population surveys from 1992 to 2024, it analyses both the extent of voluntary work and changes in who engages and under what conditions. The study also discusses why notions of an increasingly individualized and fluid engagement have gained such wide traction.
What did we find?
Despite recurring claims that civic engagement is weakening, the development in Sweden shows considerable continuity. By following voluntary work from 1992 to 2024, the study shows that its extent is surprisingly stable, while the forms and conditions for engagement change. The study thereby problematizes the picture of a general retreat from organized voluntary work.
Why does it matter?
The narrative that people engage less and less or abandon traditional forms of organizing has great significance for how the development of civil society is understood. The study shows why such notions need to be tested against long-term data. Changes do occur, but they take place alongside considerable continuity in people's voluntary work. This gives a more nuanced picture of the development of Swedish civil society and shows the value of distinguishing between changed forms of engagement and an actual decline in engagement.
Citation
von Essen, J., Henrekson, E., & Lundberg, E. (2026) Volunteering in Sweden and the Discourse of Change: Historical Trends and Theoretical Explanations. Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations 1–11
Research area
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