Radim Marada, born in Vyškov, Czech Republik, in 1961. Ph.D from the New School for Social Research, New York. Assistant Professor at the Department of Sociology, Masaryk University, Brno.
Visiting Grant Scholar (1 September 2001 – 30 November 2001)
The topic studied at NIAS was “the sources and impacts of the professionalisation trends within the voluntary/NGO (non-governmental & non-profit) sector”. Two lines of investigation were specified and developed during the course of the research work. First, what is the impact of a specific organisational configuration of a particular NGO (including, e.g., multiplicity of the criteria of performance, combination of internal and external resources, but also the use of interactive technology) on the level and style of professionalisation of work within the organisation? Second, what effects do professionalisation trends within NGOs and social movements have on the character of social actors taking part within these activities? These two parallel lines of research have resulted in two extensive articles, which will be ready for publication in the coming months. At the same time, a detailed agenda for an extensive empirical research project has been worked out in co-operation with colleagues from other academic institutions. This empirical research will be carried out during the two years immediately following the three-month stay at NIAS.