The Transformation of Public Services in the Welfare State: A Theoretical Perspective on Public–Civil Society Organization Cooperation

Abstract

This study theoretically examines the increasing role of civil society organizations (CSOs) in the delivery of public services during the transformation of the welfare state. Historically, public services were managed through centralized and hierarchical structures. However, this structure has been reshaped by economic, demographic, and administrative changes. This transformation has highlighted the need for public services to be delivered not only by the state but also within multi-actor and multi-level governance arrangements. In this context, the study considers cooperation between public institutions and civil society organizations as one of the fundamental structures of this process and evaluates the role of CSOs in the design, implementation, and evaluation of public services. The literature indicates that cooperation between public institutions and CSOs offers important opportunities for efficiency, participation, and accountability in public services, while also generating structural limitations and governance tensions. Within this framework, the study approaches public-CSO cooperation as a multi-layered and dynamic governance field and emphasizes that the success of such arrangements depends on appropriate institutional design and clear accountability mechanisms.