Presents a collection of comparative studies of civil society around two main issues: the comparison and analysis of civil society regimes in relation to different constructions of citizenship and welfare states and the role of civil society in governance and active participation of citizens.

List of Contributors. EDITORIAL BOARD. Preface. The third sector in Europe: Does it exhibit a converging movement?. Civil society and new forms of governance: The case of childcare services in a European perspective. Public governance roles of third sector organisations in Ireland: A comparison with South Africa. Toward a typology of civil society: Understanding non-government public action. Does public spending “crowd out” nonprofit welfare?. Civil society organizations and advocacy: A comparative study between Brazil and the United States. The role of civil society organisations in different nonprofit regimes: Evidence from Austria and the Czech Republic. Making volunteering work: The power of voluntary organizations to enhance civic skills. Some evidences from the European Social Survey. Opportunity structure for citizens’ participation in a European network civil society: A theoretical perspective. Organized civil society, volunteering and citizenship. The spirit of the civil sphere: Activating static conceptions of volunteerism and citizenship. Comparative social research. Civil society in comparative perspective. Emerald Group Publishing Limited.