The Public Sphere as a Meaningful Arena for Volunteering Dynamics: The Case of a Rural Space in Northern Israel

ABSTRACT This article examines the context of the rural public sphere as reflected in residents' consciousness of their volunteering potential. To this end, a qualitative study was conducted in two rural settlements belonging to the same regional municipality in northern Israel: one Jewish and the other Arab. The 32 interviewees who participated in the study were questioned about their childhood in their respective settlements, their views on the community today, and their motivation for volunteering. In both spaces, different arenas of conflict in which children were at the center emerged among the residents. These contexts created obstacles to accessing community volunteering and facilitated only focused, establishment‐related volunteering that was devoid of conflicts. The discussion emphasizes the relationship between a public space encompassing deep conflicts in various arenas and the ability of local community members to develop civic engagement, which motivates volunteerism.