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Social innovation in question: The theoretical and practical implications of a contested concept

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  • Pedro Marques
  • Kevin Morgan
  • Ranald Richardson

Abstract

The concept of social innovation has become pervasive among practitioners and academics, though its definition remains elusive. This paper seeks to address this by suggesting a distinction between structural social innovation, which refers to wide social change in scale and scope, targeted versions of social innovation, which can be either radical or complementary to current socio-economic institutions, and instrumental social innovation, when it is used to rebrand previous agendas in a way that is more appealing to stakeholders. These four types of social innovation are discussed referring to practical examples in the literature. We then explore ways in which the concept could be further developed by engaging with the concepts of socio-technical transitions and the foundational economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Pedro Marques & Kevin Morgan & Ranald Richardson, 2018. "Social innovation in question: The theoretical and practical implications of a contested concept," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 36(3), pages 496-512, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envirc:v:36:y:2018:i:3:p:496-512
    DOI: 10.1177/2399654417717986
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Evgeny Popov & Anna Veretennikova & Alisa Safronova, 2020. "Mathematical Support for Financing Social Innovations," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 8(12), pages 1-25, December.
    3. Joana Dias & Maria Partidário, 2019. "Mind the Gap: The Potential Transformative Capacity of Social Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(16), pages 1-17, August.
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    5. Giedrė Dzemydaitė, 2021. "The Impact of Economic Specialization on Regional Economic Development in the European Union: Insights for Formation of Smart Specialization Strategy," Economies, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-15, May.
    6. Butzin, Anna & Flögel, Franz, 2022. "High-tech left behind? Lessons from the Ruhr cybersecurity ecosystem for approaches to develop "left behind" places," IAT Discussion Papers 22/04, Institut Arbeit und Technik (IAT), Westfälische Hochschule, University of Applied Sciences.
    7. Novikova Marina & de Fátima Ferreiro Maria & Stryjakiewicz Tadeusz, 2020. "Local Development Initiatives as Promoters of Social Innovation: Evidence from Two European Rural Regions," Quaestiones Geographicae, Sciendo, vol. 39(2), pages 43-53, June.
    8. Haddad, Christian & Benner, Maximilian, 2021. "Situating innovation policy in Mediterranean Arab countries: A research agenda for context sensitivity," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(7).
    9. Victoria Hurth & Charles Ebert & Jaideep Prabhu, 2018. "Organisational purpose: the construct and its antecedents and consequences," Working Papers 201802, Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge.
    10. Cacciolatti, Luca & Rosli, Ainurul & Ruiz-Alba, José L. & Chang, Jane, 2020. "Strategic alliances and firm performance in startups with a social mission," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 106-117.
    11. Yenchun Jim Wu & Mark Goh & Yingping Mai, 2023. "Social innovation and higher education: evolution and future promise," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-14, December.
    12. Lessa Bastos, B. & Gómez, G.M., 2020. "Social entrepreneurship: pathways to scale," ISS Working Papers - General Series 132629, International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam (ISS), The Hague.
    13. Slee Bill, 2019. "Delivering on the Concept of Smart Villages – in Search of an Enabling Theory," European Countryside, Sciendo, vol. 11(4), pages 634-650, December.

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