Confrontation, Collaboration and Costs: Third Sector Participation in the Policy Process

It is assumed that third sector organisations are meaningful participants in the public policy process, yet when we seek to examine the outcomes of their panicipation there is little research evidence to suppon that view. In this article, I examine what third sector organisations are seeking to achieve through their participation in the policy process and what strategic choices they make to pursue their goals. After reviewing the difficulties associated with determining the outcomes of the work of third sector organisations as policy actors, the strategic options of collaboration and confrontation are' examined,and the costs and benefits that each of them imply are considered.