Grassroots Associations

Grassroots Associations is a comprehensive review and critique of empirical and theoretical research on grassroots non profit-making and voluntary organizations.David Horton Smith examines in depth the distinctive nature and characteristics of a previously under-studied area which includes such groups as Alchoholics Anonymous, community environmental action committees and church Bible study groups. He addresses: group formation, structure, process, leadership, and life cycle change; effectiveness; the influence such associations have on society; the future of grassroots associations, which he sees as integral to a postmodern society moving towards participatory democracy, self-determinism and individual choice.

David Horton Smith has been a Professor of Sociology at Boston College since 1976 and was associate Professor there from 1968 to 1976. He currently is on a leave of absence from the university

Key Abbreviations in This Book

ix

Foreword

x

Preface

xiii

PART I: TOWARD A ROUND-EARTH PARADIGM FOR THE VOLUNTARY NONPROFIT SECTOR

Introduction

3

(1)

Nonprofit-Type Classifications

4

(3)

Definitions and Metaphors

7

(26)

The Connotative Definition of Grassroots Associations

7

(3)

Some Broader Background on the Study of Associations

10

(2)

The Astrophysical Dark Matter Metaphor

12

(1)

The Mapmaking Metaphor and the Flat-Earth VNPS Paradigms

13

(2)

Toward a Theory of Voluntary Altruism: Key Definitions

15

(13)

Conclusion

28

(5)

Revising Flat-Earth Maps: The Rest of the Voluntary Nonprofit Sector

33

(38)

Numbers of Associations and All Nonprofits

36

(9)

People and Roles

45

(8)

Time and Behavior

53

(2)

Money and Property

55

(5)

Conclusion

60

(7)

PART II: THE DISTINCTIVE NATURE OF GRASSROOTS ASSOCIATIONS

Introduction

67

(4)

Formational Characteristics

71

(20)

The Basic GA Founder Choices

71

(17)

Conclusion

88

(3)

Internal Guidance Systems

91

(16)

Moderate Amounts of Ideology

92

(3)

Adequate Incentives and Satisfaction

95

(8)

Secondary Importance of GA Incentives and Roles

103

(1)

Conclusion

103

(4)

Internal Structure

107

(20)

Internal Structure

107

(16)

Conclusion

123

(4)

Internal Processes

127

(22)

Internal Processes

127

(19)

Conclusion

146

(3)

Leaders and Environments

149

(18)

Leadership

149

(14)

GA Environments and Their Relationships to GAs

163

(1)

Conclusion

164

(3)

Life Cycle Changes

167

(28)

Definitions

167

(2)

Increasing Complexity in Work Organization, Including National Associations, With Age

169

(2)

Complexity and the Life Cycle of GAs

171

(2)

Causes of Complexity in GAs

173

(5)

Alternatives to Complexity in GAs

178

(3)

Other Factors Related to the Age of GAs

181

(11)

Conclusion

192

(3)

Impact and Effectiveness

195

(22)

GA Impact

196

(10)

GA Effectiveness

206

(3)

General Effectiveness Studies

209

(2)

Conclusion

211

(4)

PART III: THEORETICAL PARADIGMS AND CONCLUSIONS

Introduction

215

(2)

Flat-Earth Paradigms and a Round-Earth Paradigm Outline

217

(26)

Metaphors and Paradigms for Understanding the VNPS

217

(2)

Overview of Flat-Earth VNPS Paradigms

219

(19)

Outline of a Round-Earth Paradigm of the VNPS

238

(2)

Rating My Own Success in Following the Round-Earth Paradigm

240

(1)

Conclusion

241

(2)

Some Conclusions and Forecasts: The Advent of Homo Voluntas

243

(20)

Long History of the VNPS

243

(1)

One Nonprofit Sector or Two?

244

(1)

Using a Balanced Round-Earth Paradigm of the VNPS

245

(1)

One Contrarian Conclusion: No Financial Crisis for the VNPS as a Whole

246

(2)

The Role of Volunteer Groups in Society

248

(2)

The New Social Scientific Discipline of Voluntary Action Studies: 50 to 100 Years Away in the Future

250

(1)

Policy Recommendations

250

(1)

Past and Future Trends in VG Prevalence

251

(1)

Determinants of VG Prevalence Growth Worldwide

252

(2)

Expansion of Voluntary Role Choices in the Future, Especially in Postindustrial Societies

254

(5)

The Voluntary Century and Volunteer Millennium: The Advent of Homo Voluntas

259

(4)

Appendix A: Description of the (Largely North American) Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action

263

(4)

Appendix B: Creating a Local Nonprofit Sampling Frame Including Grassroots Associations: An American Example

267

(12)

A Multimethod Comprehensive Sampling Frame Creation Strategy for Nonprofits

268

(5)

Cleaning the Data

273

(1)

Other Countries

274

(1)

Conclusion

275

(4)

Appendix C: Methodology of the Smith One-Suburb Study

279

(4)

References

283

(38)

Index

321

(21)

About the Author

342

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Grassroots Associations

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials