Social partners - Is it 'the only game in town'?

Abstract

This article attempts to analyse some of the experiences of the Irish community and voluntary sector's participation in social partnership. The article explores the politics of social partnership and discusses the implications of participation in social partnership for the potential strategies and choices for the community and voluntary sector. It looks at the outcomes of that participation from the perspective of both its impact on income and other inequalities and its impact on the community and voluntary sector and its relationship with the state, other actors and internal relationships within the sector. Alternatives to social partnership are explored and the article concludes that, while limited, there are specific gains and reasons to 'stay inside'. At the same time, we should be firmly focused on the 'outside' and on alternative alliances, tactics, visions and ideologies.