Abstract
This special issue explores voluntary activities from a global perspective. Questioning their
assumed universality and Western-centric foundations, the contributions examine voluntary
activity as a historically contingent social practice that carries different meanings and conse-
quences across time and space. Case studies from England, Lebanon, India, Slovenia, and Swit-
zerland demonstrate how voluntary activities can both challenge and reinforce existing struc-
tures. By tracing their diverse historical trajectories, the issue highlights the ambivalent power
of voluntary activity as a site of empowerment, obligation, and social transformation.