Moving Beyond Empirical Theory -- Defining and Theorizing the Third Sector -- Sector Labels -- Social Origins -- The Civil Society Index -- Social Economy -- Volunteering -- Volunteering in Developing Countries -- Participation -- Philanthropy -- Leadership and Governance -- Nonprofit Marketing -- Social Accounting -- Corporate Social Responsibility -- Third Sector–Government Partnerships -- Social Capital -- Transforming Democracy? -- The Dark Side -- Philanthropy in an Era of Global Governance -- The Question of the Poor -- Global Environmental Engagement -- Global Civil Society -- The World Social Forum.

To mark the 20th Anniversary of Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations the editor has compiled a comprehensive overview of contemporary debates in third sector scholarship, comprised of all original research by leaders in the field. This work offers a critical review of the central and innovative themes that have come to form the core of third sector debate and research with an international focus. The first global compendium of third sector research, this contributions to this work provide an international, multi-disciplinary, and state-of-the-art overview of the field. The contributions not only examine and review the existing scholarship, but introduce new perspectives and thinking on the third sector—especially in terms of future implications around the world. Topics covered include: -History and Development of the Field -New Trends in Volunteering and Philanthropy -Volunteering and Participation in Developing Countries -Leadership and Governance -Corporate Responsibility -Social Capital -Global Civil Society With a broad and comprehensive look at the field of Third Sector Research, this work will be of primary interest to researchers in political science, sociology, development studies, and nonprofit leadership programs.