(Re)building remnants of volunteer cultures in a post-Olympic metropolis: Analyzing forces, structures, and opportunities in Greece’s civil society landscape

Abstract

ABSTRACT Recently, Greece has undergone substantive civil society and volunteer transformation. Although changes have been precipitated by various forces, including the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, the country’s third-sector organizations have been (re)generated through the creation of a productive urban commons. Notwithstanding a vibrant landscape of activity and opportunities, the environment continues to challenge sector entities. Utilizing interviews with 19 sector professionals, our research question focuses on examining current perceptions on the sector’s development, contemporary status and challenges, and future potential. Accordingly, the paper aims to 1) account for some of the political, socio-economic, and ideological shifts in the evolution and priorities of Greece’s Third sector; 2) explore industry experiences in the pursuit of individual and collective civil society agendas; and 3) establish some directions of, and challenges to, organizational continuity and change. Our findings suggest that collaborative efforts illustrate the sector’s progressive capacities, yet these are measured against enduring sustainability concerns.