Voluntary Associations and Leisure: At the Core of Social Change

Abstract

There are many different ways in which people organise themselves in their free time. The variety of subjects, ideas and interests that lie at the heart of informal associations are infinite and range from those whose pursuit of collective interests have given rise to labour unions and political parties to the stamp collector who initiates a philatelist association. Clubs, informal groups pursuing joint leisure goals, groups involved in voluntary or welfare work, pressure groups and the many groups that plan their free-time activities collectively, form a multifacetted world. In this article we make an attempt to summarize the main theoretical approaches useful in explaining and under- standing the complex phenomenon of leisure groups or voluntary associations. From this overview we draw a theoretical synthesis which defines the specific character of these groups and their relation to society and processes of social change.