Social Engagement, Volunteering and Activism: Boundaries and Overlaps

Abstract

Engagement entails a combination of attention and activity, it is a purposeful investment of energy. There are many types of engagement, such as for example political engagement, when the attention and activity are focused on influencing government actions; associational engagement, referring to all forms of associational life without political object, etc.. We can be engaged as individuals (for example in our intellectual pursuits) or as collectives when we join forces with others for the same cause. Engagement may be turned towards and bring about social change, but it may as well be focused on the preservation of existing rules. Volunteerism or volunteering refers to a voluntary, public, formally organised and unpaid activity. It means contribution of one’s time, talents and strengths for the benefit of others or the collective good. Voluntary activities may vary from preparing meals at the shelter for homeless people, providing free of charge legal advice in a trade union to organisation of events within an environmental NGO. Activism refers to an action on behalf of a special cause, which goes beyond the conventional (Martin 2007). The cause can range from minority’s rights protection, safe working conditions to world peace, while the action may be a boycott, protest marches, canvassing etc.. It is often argued that volunteerism provides short-term, palliative solutions to social problems, based on individuals’ personal feelings and abilities, while activism is seen as giving long-term answers to be built in institutions. However, same combination of attention and activity can be seen as both activism and volunteerism. Though in some respects contested concepts, engagement, volunteering and activism are deeply intertwined. This paper aims at sketching boundaries and overlaps between the three concepts.