Resumen de Panoramic view of the social third sector in Spain: environment, development, social research and challenges

Vicente Marbán Gallego , Gregorio Rodríguez Cabrero

• The development of Spanish civil society is analyzed in the context of the current changes in the Welfare State as well as its social nature. Following this, the recent social history of the Third Sector (TS) is analyzed, with a special reference regarding the Social Action Third Sector (STS), its growth and development, potential and limits. On the basis of social and organizational development we touch on and evaluate social research as applied in Spain and the main guidelines for analysis developed to this day.To end,we take into account both the development of the TS in the double context of the mercantilization of welfare activities and the decentralization of the state, as well as the challenges at a research level the TS faces, for a better understanding of its scope, functions and impact on welfare.