Grassroots Associations

Front Cover
SAGE, May 11, 2000 - Business & Economics - 342 pages

Grassroots Associations is a comprehensive review and critique of empirical and theoretical research on grassroots, nonprofit 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.

 

Contents

Introduction
3
Chapter 1 Definitions and Metaphors
7
The Rest of the Voluntary Nonprofit Sector
33
Part II The Distinctive Nature of Grassroots Associations
65
Introduction
67
Chapter 3 Formational Characteristics
71
Chapter 4 Internal Guidance Systems
91
Chapter 5 Internal Structure
107
Part III Theoretical Paradigms and Conclusions
213
Introduction
215
Chapter 10 FlatEarth Paradigms and a RoundEarth Paradigm Outline
217
The Advent of Homo Voluntas
243
Description of the Largely North American Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action
263
Creating a Local Nonprofit Sampling Frame Including Grassroots Associations An American Example
267
Methodology of the Smith OneSuburb Study
279
References
283

Chapter 6 Internal Processes
127
Chapter 7 Leaders and Environments
149
Chapter 8 Life Cycle Changes
167
Chapter 9 Impact and Effectiveness
195
Index
321
About the Author
342
Copyright

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