Voluntary Associations, Professional Organisations and the Environmental Movement in the United States

This research examines the relationship between voluntary and professional environmental organisations in the United States. A content analysis of newspaper abstracts for a 15 year period suggests that the unconventional actions of voluntary groups precede similar types of activities of professional organisations by one or more years. Although their actions are interrelated, voluntary groups often identify and respond to emerging issues while professional organisations tend to focus on shaping the policy agenda and affecting policy outcomes. The combined activities of voluntary associations and professional organisations make it possible for the environmental movement to retain a presence and advance environmental policy.