Globalization and the Values of Volunteering as Leisure

Cultural globalization may be a way to foster the values or volunteering as a leisure experience. Volunteerism may offer one way to bring people together to address the problems of local communities as well as the global village. Defining volunteering is complicated because it is a cultural activity that is conditioned by multiple factors including ethnic traditions, religious beliefs, and legal regulations. In countries around the world, however, people in governmental as well as not for profit organizations are realizing the economic and social benefits of volunteering. An implication of globalization may be opportunities to share information about volunteering and how volunteers use their energy to supplement human capital as well as social services. Three related but distinct dimensions are discussed regarding volunteerism and how it relates to leisure and recreation including individual, organizational, and community aspects. In a globalized world where it is easy to become disillusioned with feelings of powerlessness, volunteerism might be a leisure activity that offers ways to express individual interests as well as to foster community and global commitments.