What It Is
When to get third-force involved
Government/third-force partnership

[Some (random?) notes on how government can utilize the so-called 'third force' groups (charities, churches, community groups, PTAs, lodges, community development ministries, civic groups, neighborhood watches, tenant groups, NGOs, most Alinsky-style groups, etc.). I do not include direct advocacy groups, as these tend to be too politicized and agenda-blindered to operate well as a 'third-force' group, yet a few (notably the Urban League, NAACP, and BFW Institute) can sometimes helpfully serve several of the third-force functions. Similarly, there are non-profit groups (Blue Cross/Shield; most non-profit hospitals) which are not third-force but rather operate as private-sector (market or 'second-force'), while a few for-profits (such as development banks) and mutuals (lodge or denominational insurance companies, some credit unions) can operate in a third-force way.]

I know it's not usually thought of this way, since over time they have developed quasi-governmental status, but volunteer fire departments were originally a third-force-like institution -- people knew that there was a common need (fire protection) and organized themselves (as fire departments) expressly to meet that specific need rather than waiting for government to do it.

'Third-force' is, at its base, the expression of an ideal of how one looks at society, an attempt to reconnect people to their responsibility in/to/for the civis. When it does what it's good at, it can take a huge burden off of government. Governments already involve third-forcers in some way in roughly a third of what they do, including more than half of all health care and social services; still, the potential for deeper involvement in more activities has only begun to be tapped. Some people who advocate this way of doing things get carried away, acting as if one could somehow do away with most functions of government. Which is badly mistaken; to use the boating analogy, the third force can row but it can't steer. It is task-oriented, it has a purpose and a method. It is targeted, focused -- and therefore narrow. But the art of governance is weaving a complex tapestry of different purposes and methods, giving shape and form to it, bringing out a true commonness from the threads. To do that, most of the functions government now does absolutely must be done by those who govern; one of the problems most people have with government is that governments tend to do everything else but are ineffective (or worse) at what they alone can do.

Worse, the communities may not have the get-up-and-go to do the third-force things. Apathy rules; ennui sets in. (Sounds like the suburbs, doesn't it?) Government may have to spur the creation of new groups as existing ones fall down on the job; or, they may have to pick up the task themselves because of changing conditions. Worst of all, any institution made up of a specific sector of society will, over time, take on many of that sector's biases. This has not yet set in with the current crop of third-force, but that's because they're new at the game. But, please note that neither government nor business are immune to apathy, boredom, or prejudice, either. Each sector must act as part of checks and balances on the other parts. Jimmy Carter spoke of an ideal of "a government as good as its people"; unfortunately for many Americans, that may not be good enough, and may in some ways not be good at all.

to find out if and how the way things currently run might have an exploitative, negative, or unhelpful effect (that is, they can serve as a listening-post for an accurate assessment of the bias effect of policy);

creating/utilizing a pool of volunteer labor; creating cohesion in a specific community; doing community-building things that will not make a profit; creating a sense of working for the betterment of others; matters where face-to-face, one-on-one, hands-on attention and custom-made solutions are key to success (such as social work or seniors services); matters where the public (or, with race, a specific part of the public) has come to distrust other sources and call for a source 'of their own'; matters where it might be helpful if established moral communities (churches; also, on this item, sane advocacy groups and some lodges) applied their special approaches to the matter in a direct, concentrated way. (Especially, where development and enforcement of behavioral standards may prove important to success.)

Means of funding: Grants, Loan Guarantees (targeted), Contracting, Formal Govn't/3rd Force partnerships, Informal Govn't/3rd Force partnerships.

Using 3rd-forcers to provide technical assistance/information to those with a need. Providing technical assistance/information to 3rd-forcers so they can provide the need. Public calls for volunteers, Voucher systems, Coordinate 3rd-force efforts, Spurring 3rd-force efforts, Self-help / Coproduction (providing the facilities for doing things)

Church/state rules are justifiably applied. However, governments, especially here in the East and in the West, tend to be far too rigid about those rules, acting as if any indication of religious identity was an act of prosyletization, or as if "secular purpose" was not a primary criterion of Supreme Court church/state decisions. (In places such as Louisiana and Utah, the opposite problem occurs, but then New York isn't New Orleans, and neither is most of America.) Bob Longman, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
http://members.aol.com/rlongman1/longman.html

Now Is the Time for a Third Force to Emerge in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Now is the time for a third force to emerge in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The phrase "third force" rather than "third way" is offered, because the third way, if it exists at all, is not yet in sight. A genuine third way through the political thicket in which we are caught will be biblically and confessionally rooted, and will represent the consensus of the faithful that God’s will for our time has been discerned and must be affirmed.

The use of the term "force" is not meant to suggest the mustering of yet another army on our ecclesiastical battleground but rather a combination of voices acting more or less independently, through the governing bodies of the church, primarily the presbyteries, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit to call for an end to the prevailing culture of violence in the denomination and for the restoration of civility and a sense of proportion in the prosecution of the theological debates so important to our future...

In terms of power, the center wants power sharing..Hence, the time is ripe for a "third force" to make its voice heard in the governing bodies of the church, not for the sake of destroying any faction, not for the sake of itself taking power.. that all God’s people deserve a place at the table where decisions are made. http://www.pres-outlook.com/rhb012802.html

The 'The Third Force' is international. The Finnish Institute of International Affairs 'The Third Force' Yuri Luzhkov and Fatherland RUSSIA BEYOND 2000 www.upi-fiia.fi/Luzhkov.pdf

Ann Florini is a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and director of the Endowment’s Project on Transparency and Transnational Civil Society wrote the book: The Third Force.

From the landmines campaign to the Seattle protests against the WTO to the World Commission on Dams, transnational networks of civil society groups are seizing an ever-greater voice in how governments run countries and how corporations do business. This volume brings together a multinational group of authors to help policymakers, scholars, corporate executives, and activists themselves understand the profound issues raised. How powerful are these networks?

Is their current prominence a temporary fluke or a permanent change in the nature of international power? What roles should they play as the world struggles to cope with the new global agenda?

This book’s six case studies investigate the role of transnational civil society in the global anti-corruption movement, nuclear arms control, dam-building and sustainability, democracy movements, landmines, and human rights. The conclusion draws out lessons learned and argues for a new understanding of the legitimate role of transnational civil society.

"Deputy Minister.. called for stronger measures against the IRA at a Unionist party meeting.. He said a "third armed force" should be established outside British control unless recruitment for the UDR...improved within the next few weeks." (Facts on File, 1971)

"There are so many interfaces between Catholic and Protestant populations that it would be difficult to argue that certain Protestant populations felt much more threatened than did others. There is undoubtedly some truth in such an idea, and it did become more relevant later in Paisley's career (with, for example, the popularity of his paramilitary 'Third Force'..)" (Bruce, 1986, p.59-60)

"Paisley told reporters..."the British government must learn from all this that we simply can't take anymore, and we will not take anymore." He continued, "We will have a third force of men on the streets of Northern Ireland to protect our people." (Facts on File, 1981)

"Police announced Dec. 25 that the day before they had arrested a dozen members of the so-called 'Third Force' organized by the Rev... The men, who were accused of operating illegal road blocks in County Fermanagh near the border with the republic, were released on bail. A Protestant spokesman.. charged that the arrests were politically motivated, and said they would not deter the Third Force from continuing its efforts." (Facts on File, 1981)
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Parliament/2936/excerpts/third.html

Third Force psychology was founded by, among others, Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers {1}, and William Glasser. The term "Third Force" was coined by Abraham Maslow. Third Force psychology is based on the premise that all people are inherently good; that through a conscious evolution of attitudes, values, and beliefs, one becomes a self actualized individual with the inner wisdom and confidence to guide their own life in a manner that is personally satisfying and socially constructive. Even though Third Force psychology was developed to be used on mentally ill people, Third Force practices have found their way into the classroom and are being used on healthy children. {2} In this setting, Third Force practices are being used to change the child's existing belief system, the assumption being that such will result in a changed society.

Dr William Coulson, ethnopsychologist, was an associate of Dr Carl Rogers. Together they developed non-directive education based on the same premise as values clarification {3} another application of Third Force psychology. The underlying premise of values clarification is that there are no absolutes, no right or wrong answers; that reality is a matter of perception, not a matter of standards and values passed from generation to generation as are the tribal truths that perpetuate a culture and ensure its continued prosperity.

Dr William Coulson later denounced values clarification as an abysmal failure. He was horrified to learn that schools were using curriculums incorporating values clarification in the classroom to teach children about sex, drugs, alcohol, etc. In his latter years, Dr Coulson has tried to warn parents of the dangers of values clarification, the name of which he states has been changed to critical thinking, problem solving, or decision making or any combination thereof. (See also What Parents Need to Know about Conflict Resolution and HOTS.)

Another application of Third Force psychology is sensitivity training. Sensitivity training is intended, specifically, to be used to change the child's existing belief system through a process known as unfreezing, changing, and refreezing the child's belief system; the underlying assumption being that by significantly changing the students' belief system, the result will be a changed society.

A variation of this technique is known as cognitive dissonance defined as creating conflict between what the child knows (cognitive) and what the child believes (affective) to affect a change in psychomotor (how the child acts/behaves). The point at which the child is willing to change his existing belief system is known as the point of threshholding. Cognitive dissonance can be effected in any number of ways, is used extensively, and is intended to change the child's existing belief system, to make the child openminded, nonjudgmental, accepting of diverse views.

Most of the conflict resolution programs being used in school districts lead back to the works of Dr William Glasser. Among Glasser's beliefs:

Schools should recognize the children's identity needs; that children are no longer searching for a goal, but for a role; that this is the primary need of human beings; that schools must change their function to enable the child to identify himself as worthwhile; the imparting of core knowledge promotes individuality; the isolated man, which is bad; whereas collaborative and cooperative involvement promotes the collective man which is good there are no right answers; that there are many alternatives to certainty and right answers ; in a pass-superior, no failure grading system.

In one conflict resolution program based on Glasser, it becomes very apparent that the curriculum is intended to produce a collaborative and cooperative child willing to look to the peer group for his belief system, his social acceptance (groupthink); that the curriculum is intended to produce children who are "critical thinkers," alienated from the tribal truths and the culture of their elders (values clarification).

Abraham Maslow, before his death, denounced Third Force psychology, stating that it was based on false premises; that it failed to take into account the evil (or sin) nature of man.
http://www.icehouse.net/lmstuter/er005.htm

VIOLENCE in the taxi industry is being fuelled by sinister "third force" operatives who encourage the use of hitmen to kill rivals, according to a programme to be aired on the SABC

Violence For Hire, a 30-minute documentary looking at the bloodier side of the taxi business, shows that mafia-style contract killers can earn up to R10 000 or a taxi of their own for shooting prominent operators in the war over lucrative routes.

The documentary says that police and other factions deliberately use violence as a destabilising factor in the same way that they once used it to get rid of political activists.

The taxi industry mushroomed following deregulation in the 1980s, and has been plagued by near anarchy since then - largely owing to competition for limited, and over-subscribed, profitable routes.

Most drivers in the Cape carry firearms, allegedly provided by corrupt police officials, who are also said to collude with different taxi associations to offer protection. There are also claims that some police actually own vehicles.
http://www.sn.apc.org/wmail/issues/970214/NEWS49.html

Immediately after the shooting of the five ANC men on July 22 President Mandela announced that a 'third force' was responsible. In fact the ANC has continuously stressed that the violence in Richmond, South Africa, is the work of a third force co-ordinated by Sifiso Nkabinde, a self-confessed police informer. His mission, runs the argument, was the gradual destruction of ANC structures in Richmond and further afield.

As early as July 1991 both local ANC and IFP leaders suggested the presence of a third force in the Richmond area. Even at this stage though, definitions differed. In the pre-April 1994 understanding of the term, the third force referred to a group or individuals with close ties or official links to the South African security forces, usually their intelligence arms.

The task of such a group or individual was to destabilise or inhibit the activities of the ANC and its allies, using all manner of means including arrest, assassination, fomenting violence between the ANC and IFP and supplying weapons. After the 1994 election the notion of a third force became vaguer because the security forces were now under ANC control.

The IFP gave the notion a different twist, suggesting that there was 'an external force causing mayhem in the area', not connected to the AWB or the security forces but rather to people who entered the area 'under the guise of monitoring'.
http://www.hsf.org.za/Briefing_9/3_Third_Force.htm

Coaching is a powerful, interactive relationship between a Life Coach and client. It is a positive collaboration that empowers the individual to get the best out of themselves, their situation and circumstances. Life Coaching is about creating Personal Success. It provides a mechanism for individuals to move beyond any previous limitations, the reassurance to create strategic plans, and the focused vision to set and achieve personal and professional goals.

Often frustrations, inefficiency and anger surface when groups meet, whether as a board of directors, a team meeting or departmental conference. Personal issues, expectations, and bad communication often mar good intention to create a destructive force. A life coach facilitator is most effective in interfacing between the individuals concerned acting as a catalyst to create understanding and commonality so the real issues that need to be discussed can be highlighted and dealt with. This creates a positive outcome of completion and co-operation.

It has been shown that training can increase productivity by as much as 22.4%, though this can diminish as time elapses. The same study found that training combined with coaching created an 88% increase in productivity with little fall off over time. Coaching is the catalyst to make the general ideas within conventional training relevant to the specifics needs of the individual. This creates the all-important ownership, ensuring new ideas, methods or techniques will be used by the individual. www.third-force.com

The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is the umbrella body for voluntary organisations in Scotland, with offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness.
For more than 50 years SCVO has worked through its membership, their elected representatives and its staff to pursue a twofold strategic mission:

to promote and advocate the independence, interests and values of the voluntary sector among the major players in Scottish life and in the wider community and to encourage voluntary organisations to realise their full potential by improving their effectiveness and capacity through providing access to training, information, analysis, funding opportunities, and services.

Membership of SCVO joins your organisation with hundreds of others, all helping to achieve that mission, and to build Scotland's Third Force. Equalities Programme, Healthy Gay, Scottish Marriage Care, Working Together.. http://www.workwithus.org/findus/

FORMER state president FW de Klerk entrusted action on the elusive Steyn Report, which linked the apartheid military to "third force" activities, to three top military officials who were themselves implicated - including the present South African National Defence Force chief, General George Meiring.

The release may have serious implications for De Klerk, who is now shown to have had knowledge of third force activities - including train violence.