Il volontariato: una mappa concettuale

The object of this essay is to trace a «conceptual map» of voluntarism, approaching its many features, its multiple definitions and analysis perspectives, in order to comprehend this phenomenon in light of its transformations over the recent years. For this purpose, the main «concepts», are considered at a micro, meso and macro level. Among the elements analyzed are: volunteer actions, «classic voluntarism», «new voluntarism», the role of the social network and its actors, solidarity, gift, reciprocity, identity, volunteer organizations, legislation and governance.