engleski

New dawn for social services? Potential role of social enterprises in Croatian welfare system

The third sector and social enterprises are becoming an increasingly important element of the institutional mix in Europe taking more space as a response to growing challenges and new social risks, becoming a major partner of a welfare state in various capacities. This paper aims to analyse the role of social enterprises in Croatian welfare system, particularly its potential for taking a stronger role as a social services provider. The first part of the paper will introduce path development on Croatian welfare state and some current developments. That path development included a transition from a socialist country to democracy and nowadays to becoming a full EU member. We will elaborate processes of development of social services in the Croatia welfare state, reach of welfare mix and its relevant stakeholders. The main part of the paper will be the analysis of the role of the third sector and social entrepreneurship area in providing social services, developing social innovations, possibly contributing to welfare state re- configuration. The analysis will be based on the results of research carried out in the FP7 project Third Sector Impact (TSI) and the results of the research conducted in the framework of a doctoral dissertation, "The impact of the third sector on the socio- economic development of Croatia". Both types of research were conducted using the qualitative methodology. Above stated we will analyse secondary sources and particularly highlight reach of relevant sector strategies with a focus on the implementation of the Strategy for development of social entrepreneurship in Croatia (2015-2020). Based on the analysis we will conclude on the current role of role of social enterprises in Croatian welfare system and give remarks about potential future places of social enterprises in providing social services.

social enterprises, social services, welfare state, third sector, Croatia

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