Starting from elsewhere: reimagining the third sector, the state and the market

Understanding the complex evolving relationships between the third sector, the state and the market is one of the most important and fruitful areas of research, policy attention and practice reflection in the third sector. Yet too often analysis seems to be reduced to a discussion involving seemingly large, abstract and disarmingly simple categories – ‘state’, ‘market’ and ‘third sector’ – in which nuance, differentiation and contradiction can be lost. This short paper aims to stimulate reflection and discussion amongst researchers and others by calling for a reimagination of the ‘third sector’ and its relationships with the state and the market.

The argument proceeds in three stages. Firstly some elements of what could be seen as conventional wisdom in third sector research are outlined. This is followed by a discussion of how conventional wisdom is woven into two prevailing narratives – of ‘necessity and adaptation’ and ‘jeopardy and loss’ – about the current state and future prospects for the third sector. Finally, using the purported ‘marketisation’ of the sector as an example, the paper suggests an alternative starting point for thinking about and researching the third sector.