Abstract
The aim of this article is to investigate the governmentalities of volunteering in regional Western Australia. Drawing on
interviews with 25 consenting volunteers and their managers, a thematic analysis revealed the experiences and perceptions
of the research participants. Two distinct governmentalities exist: one reflecting neo-liberal governmentality and the other
reflective of classic liberalism. Whilst this study is limited to regional Western Australia, the results suggest that there
are variations in ‘governmentalities’ of volunteering comprising a mix of sometimes contradictory elements. This article also
demonstrates the usefulness of governmentality for expanding the understanding of volunteering that has the potential to illuminate
vital elements of the volunteer sector, which are being missed. There are many niches where volunteer groups exist or are
emerging that are not visible and out of reach of the control techniques commonly used by governments adopting advanced (neo)
liberal governmentalities.
interviews with 25 consenting volunteers and their managers, a thematic analysis revealed the experiences and perceptions
of the research participants. Two distinct governmentalities exist: one reflecting neo-liberal governmentality and the other
reflective of classic liberalism. Whilst this study is limited to regional Western Australia, the results suggest that there
are variations in ‘governmentalities’ of volunteering comprising a mix of sometimes contradictory elements. This article also
demonstrates the usefulness of governmentality for expanding the understanding of volunteering that has the potential to illuminate
vital elements of the volunteer sector, which are being missed. There are many niches where volunteer groups exist or are
emerging that are not visible and out of reach of the control techniques commonly used by governments adopting advanced (neo)
liberal governmentalities.
- Content Type Journal Article
- DOI 10.1007/s11266-010-9161-5
- Authors
- David Pick, School of Management, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia
- Kirsten Holmes, School of Management, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia
- Martin Brueckner, School of Management, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia
- Journal Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations
- Online ISSN 1573-7888
- Print ISSN 0957-8765