TEORIJA IN PRAKSA let. 46, 3/2009 237 Andreja ČRNAK-MEGLIČ*, Tatjana RAKAR** THE ROLE OF THE THIRD SECTOR IN THE SLOVENIAN WELFARE SYSTEM Abstract. The paper focuses on an analysis of the third sector’s characteristics in Slovenia and its role in the Slovenian welfare system. The findings are based on a survey of a representative sample of third sector organi- sations in Slovenia in 1996 and 2005 where the same methodology as in the Johns Hopkins Comparative Nonprofit Sector Project was used, thereby making the data internationally comparable. The paper aims at understanding the position of the third sector within the Slovenian welfare system through a comparative analy- sis of that sector’s characteristics and its role in other post-socialist and other European countries. It con- cludes by discussing the strategies for and future chal- lenges and opportunities of the third sector’s develop- ments and its role in the Slovenian welfare system. Key words: third sector, characteristics, welfare system, Slovenia, post-socialist countries Introduction Third sector organisations 1 in Central and Eastern European countries share similar characteristics that distinguish them from third sector organisa- tions in other societies. After a change to the system in these societies there has been a ‘boom’ in the development of third sector organisations. However, data show that the third sector in these countries is still very much an ambigu- ous sector. Moreover, despite the general similarities there are some striking differences in the development level and characteristics of third sector organ- isations that have been evolving in these societies in a relatively short period * Assist. Prof. Andreja Črnak-Meglič, Child Observatory – Social Protection Institute of the Republic of Slovenia, Rimska 8, 1000 Ljubljana. ** Assist. Prof. Tatjana Rakar, Child Observatory – Social Protection Institute of the Republic of Slovenia, Rimska 8, 1000 Ljubljana. 1 By third sector organisations we refer to private nonprofit organisations defined in accordance with the structural-operational definition applied in the Johns Hopkins Comparative Nonprofit Sector Project (Salamon et al. 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004). In Slovenia we identified five different types of third sector organi- sations that match this definition: associations, foundations, private institutions, co-operatives and church organisations. In Slovenia the term non-governmental organisations is usually employed for all types of third sector organisations.