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Who Has the Power? The Role of NPOs in Local Authorities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2026

Dorit Bar-Nir  and
John Gal
Dorit Bar-Nir*
Affiliation:
School of Social Work and Social Welfare, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91905 Jerusalem, Israel
John Gal*
Affiliation:
School of Social Work and Social Welfare, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91905 Jerusalem, Israel
*
e-mail: dorit.bar-nir@mail.huji.ac.il
e-mail: msjgsw@mscc.huji.ac.il
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Abstract

Recent years have seen accelerated processes of decentralization and devolution of social services from central government toward local authorities and from them to non-profit organizations (NPOs). This article describes a case study of the process of transition of power from a local authority to a NPO and the outcomes of this transition on public policy making. The findings presented in the article are based on a qualitative analysis of documents over a period of 7 years (1999–2006) in a large local authority in Israel and its relations with a NPO which provide services for the elderly.

Résumé

Résumé

On observe ces dernières années une accélération du processus de décentralisation et de déconcentration des services sociaux du gouvernement central aux collectivités locales, et de ces dernières aux OBNL. Cet article décrit une étude de cas du processus de transition du pouvoir d’une autorité locale vers une organisation à but non lucratif et les effets de cette transition sur l’élaboration des politiques publiques. Les résultats présentés dans cet article reposent sur une analyse qualitative de documents sur une période de sept ans (1999-2006) dans une importante collectivité locale d’Israël, ainsi que ses relations avec un OBNL proposant des services aux personnes âgées.

Zusammenfassung

Zusammenfassung

In den vergangenen Jahren konnte ein beschleunigter Prozess der Dezentralisierung und Regionalisierung sozialer Leistungen von der zentralen Regierung zu den Lokalbehörden und von diesen zu den Nonprofit-Organisationen beobachtet werden. Dieser Beitrag beschreibt eine Fallstudie zum Prozess des Kompetenzübergangs von einer Lokalbehörde zu einer Nonprofit-Organisation und die Folgen dieses Übergangs auf die Festlegung öffentlicher Grundsätze. Die in dem Beitrag präsentierten Ergebnisse basieren auf einer qualitativen Analyse von Dokumenten über einen Zeitraum von sieben Jahren (1999-2006) in einer großen Lokalbehörde in Israel und ihrer Beziehung zu einer Nonprofit-Organisation, die Dienstleistungen für ältere Menschen anbietet.

Resumen

Resumen

en los últimos años se ha producido una serie de procesos acelerados de descentralización y devolución de servicios sociales, desde el gobierno central a las autoridades locales y de éstas a las OSAL. En este artículo se analiza un estudio de caso del proceso de transición de poder de una autoridad local a una organización sin ánimo de lucro y los resultados de esta transición sobre la elaboración de políticas públicas. Los resultados presentados en el trabajo se basan en un análisis cualitativo de los documentos durante un periodo de siete años (1999-2006) en una autoridad local mayor en Israel y sus relaciones con una OSAL que da servicio a los ancianos.

摘要

摘要

最近几年,从中央到地方当局以及从地方当局到非营利组织的权力下放和社会服务分权进程加快。本文介绍了从地方当局到非营利组织实施权力转移进程的个案研究,以及这种权力转移对公共决策的作用及成果。本文提出的结论是基于以色列一个大的地方当局过去7年(1999-2006)的文件的定性分析,以及它与一个专为老人提供服务的非营利组织的关系。

要約

要約

近年、中央政府、地方公共団体、特定非営利活動法人における社会奉仕活動の分散化と委譲が加速している。本論文では、地方公共団体から非営利団体までの権力の変遷過程と、公共政策決定の変遷の結果におけるケーススタディについて研究する。本論文に提示された調査結果は、年配者のためのサービスを提供する非営利団体との関係とイスラエルの地方公共団体における、7年(1999-2006)の間の資料の定性分析に基づいている。

ملخص

ملخص

قد شهدت السنوات الأخيرة عمليات تسريع اللامركزية وإنتقال ملكية الخدمات الإجتماعية من الحكومة المركزية إلى السلطات المحلية ومنهم إلى المنظمات الغير هادفة للربح (NPO’s). وصفت هذه المقالة دراسة حالة لعملية إنتقال السلطة من سلطة محلية إلى منظمة غير ربحية ونتائج هذا التحول في صنع السياسات العامة. وتستند النتائج الواردة في هذا البحث على التحليل النوعي للوثائق على مدى سبع سنوات (1999-2006) في سلطة محلية كبيرة في إسرائيل وعلاقاتها مع المنظمات الغير هادفة للربح (NPO’s) التي تقدم خدمات للمسنين.

Keywords

Non-profit organizationLocal authorityPowerIsrael

Information

Type
Original Paper
Information
Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations , Volume 22 , Issue 1 , March 2011 , pp. 1 - 25
Copyright
Copyright © International Society for Third-Sector Research and The John's Hopkins University 2010

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