ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses the potential of the third sector in democratizing the welfare state in Sweden and the hurdles it faces. Previously, I considered some major issues concerning the relationship between the third sector and the state in democratic as well as in welfare theory. This chapter explores the compatibility of a more active role for citizens in the production of their own welfare services with observations about decreasing citizen participation in the formal channels of politics. How could the growth in reflexive individualism and egoistic consumers be reconciled with greater citizen participation in the provision of their own welfare and welfare services? Moreover, would greater citizen participation be conceived as a threat to liberal representative democracy by elected officials, civil servants and social scientists? Or would it be welcomed by professional politicians and public administrators in Sweden? Would they favour the potential long-term benefits for the sustainability of a universal, tax-financed welfare state and Swedish democracy over their more narrow view of politics as a zero-sum game, where they might be the immediate losers?
