democracy. The Danish Constitutional Act was adopted in 1849 and was a milestone in history. Gathering in associations was not new to the population, but in 1849 with the freedom of association and assembly, organising in associations meant a new possibility of joining together. The associations slowly replaced the traditions and the communities of the feudal society. The freedom of association and assembly gave citizens the right to form associations without the approval of the monarch as long as the associations had legal purposes. Many associations were created in the wake of this newfound freedom (Christensen & Molin, 1995). The importance of the new right, given to citizens, cannot be underestimated. Being able to engage is a freedom and everyone had the possibility to become active, fellow citizens in a free society. The Danish Constitutional Act was a step into considering all people as independent citizens and not just a population. Grundtvig was a great contributor to the realisation of this view of citizens and society (Socialministeriet, 2001).
Many of the major folk movements emerged at this time; such as the peasant movement (bondebevægelsen), the labour movement (arbejderbevægelsen), the religious movement, and folk sports (den folkelige idræt). Most of the associations and organisations formed had a social aim. Tasks and purposes reflected the needs and problems represented in society at that time. The folk movement had a significant importance as many of the values and traditions found in associations today originated from this period. The associations gained political influence as democratic co-players and opponents (Habermann and Ibsen, 2005).
During absolute monarchy, the king had taken care of the poor. After 1849, the public sector continued supporting the poor but with consequences for the receivers. When receiving help, they were not considered as worthy citizens and they lost their political rights. They were called the undeserving poor and in the coming decades, they were separated from the deserving poor who had become poor due to sickness or disabilities. The deserving poor received support from wealthier citizens most of them based on a religious foundation.
Two religious movements dominated the 19th century: especially the evangelical and the Grundtvigian folk movement (Socialministeriet, 2001). The development of associations and the folk high school movement also meant a development of social and political conscience (Klausen & Selle, 1995).
Many of the voluntary social organisations founded in the late 19th century were grounded in the awakening movements (vækkelsesbevægelserne). These organisations aimed their work at helping children, the young people, poor, and alcoholics. But other forms of associations were founded as well:
» Party political associations
» Interest organisations (håndværkerforeninger, husmandsforeninger)
» Labour unions
» Financial associations (sparekasser, sygekasser, brugsforeninger)
» Philanthropic associations
» Sport associations
» Religious associations
In 1902, FDF was founded to keep young boys in Sunday school after inspiration from the Boy’s Brigade in the United Kingdom (FDF Museet, 2013). In 1876, the Danish Red Cross was established as a national department of Red Cross International to provide aid for sick and wounded in war (Røde Kors, 2013).
Without an absolute monarchy, where the monarch had the legislative, judicial and executive power, it became possible to distinguish between public, private, and civil society and the opportunity for the voluntary engagement rose. The adoption of the Danish Constitutional Act made it possible to talk of the creation of a voluntary sector in Denmark (Habermann & Ibsen, 2005).
4.2 The forming of the welfare state
The attitude towards citizens with social problems changed during the beginning of 20th century. The needs of the poor and sick won recognition due to the work of voluntary organisations, receiving help became a civil right and the political rights, which once were denied, were slowly given back (Socialministeriet, 2001). The public funding grew and the government wanted an even closer co-operation with the voluntary sector. The voluntary sector was considered responsible for defending the common interests to decision-makers in the political system, however the voluntary support groups were pushed back in many areas (Habermann & Ibsen, 2005). A new type of organisation emerged, especially within groups for disabled people, from the former charity associations to members based interest organisations. As a consequence, the voluntary organisations gradually lost their role as task solvers and became advocates instead (Habermann & Ibsen, 2005).
The social reform came in 1933 and is regarded as the founding of the welfare state. Society and state became almost synonymous and the public sector were attributed a central role for the responsibility for safeguarding the welfare of the citizens (Socialministeriet, 2001).
Social minister K. K. Steincke announced that the reform meant that the most important support institutions had to be governed by either the government or the municipalities.
Voluntary organisations or the private charity became a helping hand for the public sector in the areas where the state could not reach (Habermann & Ibsen, 2005).
With the law of care (Forsorgsloven), which was a part of the social reform, the co-operation between state and voluntary organisations was regulated and characterised by control.
The state could now, through collective agreements (overenskomster), assign operating tasks to the voluntary organisations. This became relevant at the handicap, children, and alcohol areas and the increased public support meant expanding activities for many of the organisations (Socialministeriet, 2001).
Particularly during the 60s and 70s, the public welfare services increased. The social area became even more regulated and professionalised to reassure the citizens, that no matter where you lived, the public welfare was the same. This meant that the effort of the individual and values based layman was not favoured (Socialministeriet, 2001). However, the cultural and sports associations received more funding due to the public regulation;
the Law of the Pools (Tipsloven) in 1948, and the Law of Leisure (Fritidsloven) in 1968 were important to the voluntary sector (Habermann & Ibsen, 2005).
The voluntary organisations had to adjust to new requirements if they wanted influence;
with the Social Security Act (Bistandsloven) from 1976 the state could no longer make collective agreements with private institutions only with self-governing institutions. As a consequence the voluntary organisations practically disappeared from legislation and the state could regulate the financial running of institutions (Habermann and Ibsen, 2005).
The private activities still had influence since the expansion of the welfare state also meant an expansion of the voluntary organisations’ tasks as service suppliers (Socialministeriet, 2001).
4.3 Transition to the welfare society
From mid-70s and during the 80s, the welfare state was struggling financially; the unemployment rate was high and the rising public expenses were a result of an increased demand on social security and health benefits. Society changed quickly from agricultural and industrial society to an information and service society. The welfare state had become
too expensive. From ‘below’, newly established women and environmental movements rebelled against the structures of the welfare state and created alternative solutions as retaliation against the state. The movements wanted influence on their own life and conditions of life. A need for decentralisation and a local community approach was dominant and the number of organisations and associations boomed. Especially new organisations for self-help, sick and disabled were created (Socialministeriet, 2001).
The development meant that the public sector could no longer be the solely responsible for the welfare of the citizens. Social problems should not only be solved at social services departments (socialkontorerne), everyone was urged to take responsibility; the private sector and the civil society including voluntary organisations. The welfare state was transforming into a welfare society. The political goodwill in relation to innovation within social tasks meant that new experimental and developmental projects were created, ideas rose from the bottom and a social development programme was created to strengthen the local initiatives, encourage the transition within the social field, and improve the opportunities of the citizens to participate in decision processes influencing them.
The voluntary organisations were re-positioned in these structural changes and regained their central position and were once again considered legitimate (Socialministeriet, 2001). The social work was attributed great value and this entailed additional funding.
The adoption of the Law of Social Services (Lov om social service) in 1998 required the municipalities and counties to collaborate with the voluntary organisations according to
§ 115 (Habermann & Ibsen, 2005). The role as a watchdog had changed and now the voluntary organisations were attributed responsibility in a new way and were considered an equal partner.
4.4 Conclusion
From the historical analysis it has become evident that the voluntary sector has played a significant role in the forming of our society. Retrospectively three major changes have characterised society and as figure 2, underneath, shows; the development of the voluntary sector is parallel to society’s development; continuous dialogue but also battles on influence and recognition from the public sector have characterised the development.
The voluntary associations and organisations have moved from charity and enlightenment to battle of interest to civil involvement. The role of the voluntary organisation has been difficult to establish and myths about the volunteers’ alternative effort and their critical role as watchdogs of society, their innovative potential, and their distinctive engagement and humanity has been impossible to overrule (Habermann & Ibsen, 2005). Tendencies
point towards voluntary organisations gaining larger political attention than ever before:
greater expectations to the effects of the activities and a demand of participation in solving society’s problems, which challenge the original purpose of the voluntary sector.
Undoubtedly, the two sectors mentioned are historically intertwined and probably always will be. The period from the end of 19th century up until today is called the age of associations because it has been the dominant way of organising when citizens had a common goal (Klausen & Selle, 1995). Whether this view is about to change for the future is reflected upon during the next three analyses.