Theme 3 : The perception of associative and civic involvement.
Civic and Associative Engagement in Ireland: A Cultural and Institutional Comparison with France
1. Introduction
During my Erasmus stay in Ireland, I conducted a survey to better understand how students, university staff, and faculty perceive civic engagement and the role of the State in supporting disadvantaged populations (the elderly, children from poor backgrounds, the homeless, etc.). This comparative study with France uses both primary sources (a Google Form survey) and secondary sources to explore the deeper cultural and institutional differences between the two countries.
2. The State’s Role in Social Work: Perceived as Strong in Ireland
When asked about the importance of the State’s role in social support, 54.5% of respondents said it is more important in Ireland than in France, while 45.5% believe it is about the same. No respondent felt the State plays a lesser role in Ireland.
Qualitative responses revealed interesting nuances:
Ireland is perceived as having less bureaucracy
There is a strong presence of State-supported NGOs
In France, the system is more structured but slower
In Ireland, volunteer organizations often fill in the gaps
These insights suggest a more community-driven model in Ireland, compared to a more centralized and administrative model in France.
3. Youth Engagement: Genuine but Constrained
Participants were asked to rate how civically engaged Irish youth are:
4 people gave 4 stars
3 gave 3 stars
2 gave 5 stars
→ This indicates a moderately positive perception, showing that while young people are engaged, their involvement may have some limitations.
Compared to France, Irish youth are perceived as slightly more engaged:
6 people gave 4 stars
5 gave 3 stars
Main motivations for volunteering:
Desire to help others (36.4%)
Personal satisfaction and career development (27.3% each)
Only 9.1% cited academic requirements
→ This suggests that volunteering is mostly self-driven, with a strong humanitarian component rather than being imposed by the system.
4. Institutional Support and Barriers
Participants rated universities’ promotion of civic engagement as:
6 gave 4 stars
5 gave 3 stars
Barriers to youth volunteering identified by respondents:
Lack of time due to studies or part-time jobs
Mental health issues and emotional strain
Lack of information about opportunities
Even in a culture that values community, practical and emotional challenges can hinder youth participation in volunteer work.
5. Cultural Factors: The Irish Community Spirit
When asked how cultural factors influence civic engagement in Ireland, answers included:
A strong tradition of local community involvement
A deeply rooted culture of helping others
Church and parishes historically playing a role
Less reliance on the State, which encourages more grassroots initiatives
Unlike in France, where the State is often expected to take the lead, Ireland relies more on local action and informal networks to address social needs.
6. Conclusion
The results suggest that while the Irish State plays a significant role in social work, it does so in support of local and associative efforts, rather than dominating the field as in France.
Civic engagement in Ireland is culturally valued and driven by personal motivation, even if practical barriers exist. Compared to France’s more institutional and centralized approach, Ireland offers a more flexible and community-led model, encouraging citizens to take action where the State leaves room.
Secondary sources used:
Hilliard, M. (2020). Civic Engagement in Ireland: A Cultural Perspective, Irish Social Review.
French Government – service-public.fr, “The role of the State in social work”.
Eurostat (2023), “Volunteering and civic engagement in Europe”.
