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Promises of societal entrepreneurship: Sweden and beyond

Author

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  • Mats A. Lundqvist
  • Karen L. Williams Middleton

Abstract

Purpose - Several types of entrepreneurship with a societal purpose coincide in Sweden today, some stemming from older domestic traditions, others being more recent foreign influences. This paper aims to interrelate social, civic, community, and other entrepreneurships in search of a more unifying concept of societal entrepreneurship for Sweden and beyond. Design/methodology/approach - As part of a larger study, Swedish researchers and practitioners promoting some kind of entrepreneurship with societal purpose, are interviewed and asked for examples and literature references. Altogether 176 actors are identified and 59 are interviewed. The main distinguishing factors between different discourses of entrepreneurship are accounted for as well as results from workshops where actors representing different discourses partook. Findings - Seven societally oriented entrepreneurship discourses are distinguished, with different foreign or domestic origins. Key characteristics for interrelating different discourses are the type of actor (individual and/or collective) and purpose (social/ecological and/or economic) emphasized in a discourse. Interactions documented from workshops indicate a potential in unifying different entrepreneurships within a widened understanding of societal entrepreneurship. Research limitations/implications - The field of entrepreneurship emphasizing societal utility is fragmented with many parallel discourses. The conceptual analysis and empirical findings imply that there is potential in a more unifying concept. Furthermore, in the limited Swedish setting, collective dimensions of entrepreneurship stand out. This nevertheless implies that collective engagements into entrepreneurship of any kind are worthy of more research and recognition. Practical implications - Implications are primarily limited to societal entrepreneurship within uncontested welfare states, such as Sweden, where most established societal needs are taken care of through taxes utilized by a public sector. Societal entrepreneurship in such a setting becomes a mechanism for renewal and experimentation. Originality/value - The paper is original in its approach to identifying and interrelating current discourses in Sweden.

Suggested Citation

  • Mats A. Lundqvist & Karen L. Williams Middleton, 2010. "Promises of societal entrepreneurship: Sweden and beyond," Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 4(1), pages 24-36, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:jecpps:v:4:y:2010:i:1:p:24-36
    DOI: 10.1108/17506201011029492
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hans Westlund, 2003. "Social economy and employment - the case of Sweden," Review of Social Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 61(2), pages 163-182.
    2. Peredo, Ana María & McLean, Murdith, 2006. "Social entrepreneurship: A critical review of the concept," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 41(1), pages 56-65, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Reinout Kleinhans & Maarten Van Ham, 2017. "The support paradox in community enterprise experiments in the Netherlands," International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 31(4), pages 570-589.
    2. Niklas Fernqvist & Mats Lundqvist, 2021. "Entrepreneurial Sustainability Engagement of Insiders Initiating Energy System Transition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-16, January.

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