Third sector: how much, how and why
The story of a complex, varied activity summarised in an effective essay
The third sector is a wide-ranging and varied grouping of activities that deserves careful understanding. Businesses too play their part within it, in various capacities. The third sector is also connected with corporate social responsibility activities. This means that it is necessary to understand the history, origins and development of the third sector as well, and therefore to read “Ascesa, declino e ritorno. Alle radici del Terzo settore in Italia” (Ascent, decline and return: at the roots of the Third Sector in Italy) by Alberto Ianes, which recently appeared in Impresa Sociale.
Ianes’ contribution is an effective summary of the development and history of this particular method of intervening in economics and the third sector itself. The article opens by framing the nature and general characteristics of the third sector then proceeds to retrace its history starting from the second half of the 19th century with forms of charity and mutualism (and with particular attention to the mutual societies). Ianes then moves on to examine the situation between the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th, arriving at the fascist period. Ianes goes on to write about a “change in direction” with respect to the changes that occurred in Europe and in Italy after the Second World War, specifically the transition from ‘welfare state’ to ‘welfare society’. Ianes then describes the stage of the 1950s and 1960s as that of the “third sector of the irregular”, referring to the various achievements that came out of the work of individuals and micro-communities and went on to shape the third sector inspired by industrialists such as Adriano Olivetti.
Alberto Ianes’ essay has the great merit of summarising a complex subject which is still little-known today, but above all constantly changing.
Ascesa, declino e ritorno. Alle radici del Terzo settore in Italia
Alberto Ianes
Impresa Sociale, 2, 2023
The story of a complex, varied activity summarised in an effective essay
The third sector is a wide-ranging and varied grouping of activities that deserves careful understanding. Businesses too play their part within it, in various capacities. The third sector is also connected with corporate social responsibility activities. This means that it is necessary to understand the history, origins and development of the third sector as well, and therefore to read “Ascesa, declino e ritorno. Alle radici del Terzo settore in Italia” (Ascent, decline and return: at the roots of the Third Sector in Italy) by Alberto Ianes, which recently appeared in Impresa Sociale.
Ianes’ contribution is an effective summary of the development and history of this particular method of intervening in economics and the third sector itself. The article opens by framing the nature and general characteristics of the third sector then proceeds to retrace its history starting from the second half of the 19th century with forms of charity and mutualism (and with particular attention to the mutual societies). Ianes then moves on to examine the situation between the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th, arriving at the fascist period. Ianes goes on to write about a “change in direction” with respect to the changes that occurred in Europe and in Italy after the Second World War, specifically the transition from ‘welfare state’ to ‘welfare society’. Ianes then describes the stage of the 1950s and 1960s as that of the “third sector of the irregular”, referring to the various achievements that came out of the work of individuals and micro-communities and went on to shape the third sector inspired by industrialists such as Adriano Olivetti.
Alberto Ianes’ essay has the great merit of summarising a complex subject which is still little-known today, but above all constantly changing.
Ascesa, declino e ritorno. Alle radici del Terzo settore in Italia
Alberto Ianes
Impresa Sociale, 2, 2023