Voluntary associations, social capital, and civil society in comparative perspective: South Korea and Sweden

People organize and participate in voluntary associations since voluntary associations provide social capital, such as norms of reciprocity, citizenship, social trust, and networks of social relations. Comparative analysis of voluntary associations in South Korea and Sweden reveals, first, that voluntary associations have played an important role in providing services, enhancing expressive functions, and in bringing a new sense of participatory democracy in Korea as well as in Sweden. Second, the civil society sector has been a major actor in governance in Korea and Sweden. The growth of voluntary associations in Korea reflects their increasing role and capacity, as has been in Sweden. Third, however, the character and strength of civil society are different in Korea and Sweden, because the ways in which voluntary associations are structured are different and the interests they provide vary across societies. Most striking difference is that Swedish civil society has been mainly constituted by formal primary economic associations, while Korean civil society has been constituted by informal affective linkage groups. Fourth, the organizing capacity of the voluntary sector can differentiate Korean civil society from the Nordic civil society more clearly. Finally, the Korean civil society need more active participation of citizens as members or volunteers in order to become an entity of organized civil society to create and enhance social capital.