Publication: The effect of civil society participation on life satisfaction : a comparative analysis
Abstract
Refah rejimleri ve refahın dağıtımındaki aktörler, refah toplumuna ulaşmak için üzerinde çalışılan kritik konulardır. Refah rejimleri çalışmalarında refah sağlayıcıları olarak çoğunlukla devlet, piyasa ve aile incelenmektedir. Bu tez, bu aktörlerden farklı olan ancak çoğu zaman onlarla işbirliği yapan sivil toplum kuruluşlarının (STK’lar) refah dağılımı üzerindeki etkisini araştırmaktadır. Tez, Orta Doğu ve Kuzey Afrika (MENA) ve Avrupa ülkelerinde STK’ların refah dağılımına katkısını, yaşam memnuniyeti üzerindeki etkilerini analiz ederek araştırmayı amaçlamaktadır. İkinci bölümde, dört Dünya Değerler Araştırması (WVS) dalgası boyunca on beş ülkede dört farklı STK türüne üyelik incelenmiştir. Üçüncü bölümde, STK üyeliğinin yaşam memnuniyeti üzerindeki etkisi üç MENA ülkesinde incelenmiştir. Dördüncü bölümde, STK’lar aracılığıyla gönüllülük yapmanın yaşam memnuniyeti üzerindeki etkisi, her biri farklı refah rejimlerini temsil eden dört Avrupa ülkesinde incelenmiştir. Kullanılan metodoloji, WVS ve Avrupa Sosyal Araştırması’ndan (ESS) elde edilen verilerle yapılan lojistik regresyon analizidir. Bulgular, STK’lara üyeliğin farklı geçmişlere göre ülkeden ülkeye farklılık gösterdiğini ve STK’ların hem üyelik hem de gönüllülük yoluyla hem MENA hem de Avrupa bölgelerinde yaşam memnuniyetini olumlu yönde etkilediğini göstermektedir.
Welfare regimes and their actors in the distribution of welfare are critical topics studied to achieve a welfare society. In the studies of welfare regimes, the state, the market, and the family are mostly examined as welfare providers. This thesis explores the impact of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), which are distinct from these other actors but often cooperate with them, on welfare distribution. The thesis aims to investigate the contribution of NGOs to welfare distribution in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and European countries by analyzing their impact on life satisfaction. In the second chapter, the membership to four different types of NGOs in fifteen countries across four World Values Survey (WVS) waves is looked. In the third part, the impact of NGO membership on life satisfaction is examined in three MENA countries. In the fourth part, the impact of volunteering through NGOs on life satisfaction is examined in four European countries, each representing different welfare regimes. The methodology employed is logistic regression analysis, with data derived from the WVS and the European Social Survey (ESS). The findings indicate that membership to NGOs differ from country to country according to their different backgrounds and NGOs, through both membership and volunteering, positively impact life satisfaction in both the MENA and European regions.
Welfare regimes and their actors in the distribution of welfare are critical topics studied to achieve a welfare society. In the studies of welfare regimes, the state, the market, and the family are mostly examined as welfare providers. This thesis explores the impact of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), which are distinct from these other actors but often cooperate with them, on welfare distribution. The thesis aims to investigate the contribution of NGOs to welfare distribution in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and European countries by analyzing their impact on life satisfaction. In the second chapter, the membership to four different types of NGOs in fifteen countries across four World Values Survey (WVS) waves is looked. In the third part, the impact of NGO membership on life satisfaction is examined in three MENA countries. In the fourth part, the impact of volunteering through NGOs on life satisfaction is examined in four European countries, each representing different welfare regimes. The methodology employed is logistic regression analysis, with data derived from the WVS and the European Social Survey (ESS). The findings indicate that membership to NGOs differ from country to country according to their different backgrounds and NGOs, through both membership and volunteering, positively impact life satisfaction in both the MENA and European regions.