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Social Innovation: a Novel Policy Stream or a Policy Compromise? An EU Perspective

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  • Bonifacio, Matteo

Abstract

Spurred by the recent global economic crisis, Social Innovation (SI) has gained increasing attention in the European Commission (EC) agenda. However, it remains a heterogeneous and ill-defined concept, whose boundaries are unclear. Currently, within EC discussions, it encapsulates a variety of concepts from social enterprises to societal change. Adopting an ethnographic methodology, this analysis provides insight into the contrasting official ‘front-stage’ and ‘back-stage’ views, constraints and practices by which SI has been adopted and promoted by the EC. While the ‘front-stage’ perspective is more intentionally based on the official situations, documents, and statements, the ‘back-stage’ is informed by both the ethnographic analysis and its relationship with the ‘front-stage’ perspective. The main finding of the analysis is that SI might presumably be seen as the only way to align the Commission's conservative-liberal policy, which is rooted in the Lisbon Agenda, with the pressing social demands that stem from the 2008 financial crisis. However, this analysis also indicates that, rather than a novel policy stream, SI can also be seen as a policy compromise that can be used to detract from debates around the need to develop a fully-fledged EU Social Policy; more deeply, it can detract the policy debate from facing a thorough reflection on our society and development model. The analysis here will also provide an overview of the risks associated with current thinking viewed from the perspective of EU players operating in the socio-political domain.

Suggested Citation

  • Bonifacio, Matteo, 2014. "Social Innovation: a Novel Policy Stream or a Policy Compromise? An EU Perspective," European Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 22(1), pages 145-169, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:cup:eurrev:v:22:y:2014:i:01:p:145-169_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Brita Hermelin & Grete Rusten, 2018. "A place-based approach to social entrepreneurship for social integration – Cases from Norway and Sweden," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 33(4), pages 367-383, June.
    2. Karine Oganisjana & Anna Svirina & Svetlana Surikova & Gunta Grīnberga-Zālīte & Konstantins Kozlovskis, 2017. "Engaging universities in social innovation research for understanding sustainability issues," Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, VsI Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Center, vol. 5(1), pages 9-22, September.
    3. Karine Oganisjana & Svetlana Surikova & Konstantins Kozlovskis & Anna Svirina, 2018. "Financial, organisational and informative involvement of the society in social innovation processes in Latvia," Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, VsI Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Center, vol. 6(1), pages 456-471, September.
    4. Karine Oganisjana & Anna Svirina & Svetlana Surikova & Gunta Grīnberga-Zālīte & Konstantins Kozlovskis, 2017. "Engaging universities in social innovation research for understanding sustainability issues," Post-Print hal-01708963, HAL.
    5. Karine Oganisjana & Svetlana Surikova & Konstantins Kozlovskis & Anna Svirina, 2018. "Financial, organisational and informative involvement of the society in social innovation processes in Latvia," Post-Print hal-02168630, HAL.
    6. Giulia Granai & Carmen Borrelli & Roberta Moruzzo & Massimo Rovai & Francesco Riccioli & Chiara Mariti & Carlo Bibbiani & Francesco Di Iacovo, 2022. "Between Participatory Approaches and Politics, Promoting Social Innovation in Smart Cities: Building a Hum–Animal Smart City in Lucca," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-15, June.
    7. Marival Segarra‐Oña & Angel Peiró‐Signes & José Albors‐Garrigós & Blanca De Miguel‐Molina, 2017. "Testing the Social Innovation Construct: An Empirical Approach to Align Socially Oriented Objectives, Stakeholder Engagement, and Environmental Sustainability," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 24(1), pages 15-27, January.
    8. Madhuwanthi Premadasa & Janaka Siyambalapitiya & Kumudu Jayawardhana & Imali Fernando, 2023. "Conceptualizing the Role of Social Entrepreneurial Orientation in the Triple Bottom Line in the Social Enterprise Context: Developing Country Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-21, May.

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