Social Services in the Czech Republic and the Role of Public Institutions in their Provision

BAREŠ, P. 2013. Social Services in the Czech Republic and the Role of Public Institutions in their Provision. Doctoral Thesis. Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Social Science, Institute of Sociological Studies: Prague. Key words: Czech Republic, municipalities, non-governmental organisations, providers of social services, public administration, public policy, regions, social services, state Abstract: Social services should be perceived as important instrument of the system of social protection in the Czech Republic. The extent of provision of social services by organisation representing different institutional sectors should be considered as key characteristics of this system. Two main groups of organisations should be distinguished in this regard primarily - public and private organisations. However both these broad categories consist of different subjects: state, regional or municipal organisations in the first case and for-profit organisations, entrepreneurs, social enterprises or non-profit organisations in the second. The primary aim of the thesis is to analyse the extent of provision of social services by public organisations (all above mentioned types), however the provision of social services by private organisations has been analysed as well, because this question is complementary to the..