Civic Service in Western Europe

Abstract

This article reviews current research and debates on civic service in Western Europe. Drawing a distinction between civic service and traditional volunteering, it traces the history of the concept in the region and the resurgence of government interest in it over the past decade, fueled in particular by the decline in military service brought about by the end of the Cold War. The article explores both the strengths and weaknesses of government action in this field and looks at the challenges facing the voluntary sector in managing its development. It concludes with a review of the evidence of the effect of civic service on the key stakeholder groups and makes recommendations for policy makers, for practitioners, and for further research.