Det motsägelsefulla partnerskapet En studie av utvecklingspartnerskap som organisationsform inom EQUAL-programmet

Sammanfattning: The aim of the thesis is to describe and analyse development partnership as an organisational form for governing and organising developmental work. The partnerships studied in this thesis are within the EU initiative EQUAL, aimed at combating discrimination and exclusion in working life and the labour market. The empirical material consists of quantitative and qualitative data such as interviews, participant observations and a questionnaire.The theoretical approach is derived from theories on political governing and organisation theory focusing developmental work. Another theoretical orientation is a neo institutional approach to organisation where partnerships are understood as results of complex economic, political and social processes which alter and edit the idea of partnerships.The results indicate that the idea of partnerships, as it is put forward in the EQUAL-programme documents, involves a number of positive values and prerequisites for successful and democratic development work. However, the findings show that partnership is not a quick fix to complex societal problems. Combining top-down and bottom-up strategies, democracy and effectiveness, development and planning and working in equal relations are all dilemmas that become visible when the idea of partnerships is put into practice. These dilemmas are discussed as contradictory elements in the idea of partnership and organising development.