Volunteering in the new millennium: A Marxist political economy approach

Volunteerism is declining at record rates. At the same time, Canadians are feeling more time crunched than ever before. This thesis situates the challenges facing the volunteer sector within the capitalist economy and explores the correlation between volunteerism and the world of work. By drawing upon existing data and literature from both the field of volunteerism and the field of work, I am able to illustrate the overwhelming circumstantial evidence that reveals a direct correlation between changes within the political and economic spheres of society and the decline in the volunteer sector. Through a critical analysis of existing research utilizing the fundamental principles of Marxist political economy, I demonstrate why espoused recommendations for volunteer recruitment and retention will not work in today's society. I follow with my own recommendations for change, asserting that struggles which are relegated to any one sphere of society will not result in any significant change; we must unite our struggles and fight capitalism at its core.