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Social Entrepreneurship: The Logic of Paradox

Author

Listed:
  • Scott Weller

    (School of Public Affairs, Penn State Harrisburg, Middletown, PA 17057, USA)

  • Bing Ran

    (School of Public Affairs, Penn State Harrisburg, Middletown, PA 17057, USA)

Abstract

Social entrepreneurship is a paradoxical phenomenon wherein seemingly incompatible elements such as business and social logics coexist. Previous research has been insufficient to systematically describe how social entrepreneurship organizations (SEO) try to balance these logics and why these same paradoxical elements make social entrepreneurship what it is. Using the systematic literature review method, this paper examines six major paradoxes and how they affect both the theory and practice of social entrepreneurship by furthering the nascent discussion about the role of paradoxes in SEOs. Viewed through the lens of organizational logics, this paper argues that the dynamic interplay between these paradoxes initiates and drives the innovations and changes necessary for the very existence of SEOs.

Suggested Citation

  • Scott Weller & Bing Ran, 2020. "Social Entrepreneurship: The Logic of Paradox," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:24:p:10642-:d:465127
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Mario Biggeri & Domenico Colucci & Nicola Doni & Vincenzo Valori, 2022. "Sustainable Entrepreneurship: Good Deeds, Business, Social and Environmental Responsibility in a Market Experiment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-20, March.
    2. Leitão, Maria Eugénia & Amaral, Miguel & Carvalho, Ana, 2024. "Reconceptualizing socio-tech entrepreneurship: A systematic literature review and research agenda," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    3. Juhee Kim & Minju Shin, 2022. "What Drives Social Enterprises to Form Sustainable Values? The Effects of Normative Identity and Social Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-14, August.

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