Publication details

The nonprofit response to the migration crisis: systems-theoretic reflections on the Austrian and Slovak experiences

Authors

VALENTINOV Vladislav BOLEČEKOVÁ Martina VACEKOVÁ Gabriela

Year of publication 2017
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source Systemic Practice and Action Research
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Economics and Administration

Citation
Web http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11213-017-9413-z
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11213-017-9413-z
Field Economy
Keywords Niklas Luhmann; nonprofit organizations; migration; systems theory
Description The present paper discusses the response of the Austrian and Slovak nonprofits to the recent migration crisis. In both countries, nonprofits delivered crucial problem-solving contributions but faced serious challenges related to scaling up, capacity building, and improving coordination. Drawing on the Luhmannian systems-theoretic approach, the paper argues that these challenges gave a boost to the systemic identity of nonprofits. Triggered by the substantial inflows of public money, the systemic identity explains why nonprofits can successfully operate in the polarized societal environment and develop unique expertise which is valuable to the public sector. At the same time, the systemic identity lowers the responsiveness of nonprofits to the societal environment. The major policy implication is that this responsiveness has to be continually improved through rational discourses and stakeholder dialogues.
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