Organisational Fields and Third Sector Housing in Ireland: North and South

Abstract

This paper applies “organizational field” analysis to compare the structure of the third sector housing fields in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Following preliminary accounts of history, structure, funding, and regulation, four key dimensions of field structure are compared: interaction, subgroups, structural equivalence, and patterns of domination. In both fields studied, early steering by the state into specialist roles has been overtaken by state funded expansion in general needs housing--increasing the dominance of larger organizations and tensions around voluntary sector identity. However, differences remain in the extent of domination and tightness of field structure, with greater emphasis on “whole organization regulation,” and adherence to professional and trade bodies in Northern Ireland. It is also shown how cross-border activity and the espousal of a “European model” will influence future trajectories.