Rural Social Innovation and Neo-endogenous Rural Development

Abstract

Social innovation is an increasingly prominent agent of change in rural communities. Community groups are filling voids in rural service provision, energising nature and heritage conservation projects and supporting a range of cultural and social activities. With no sign of neo-liberalism waning, this paper explores mechanisms that can provide effective support for social innovation, with a particular focus on the EU’s LEADER approach. Drawing parallels between social innovation and neo-endogenous development, the chapter concludes that a combination of top-down and bottom-up approaches is required, and the most effective outcomes arise where local groups become more empowered to make decisions within a supportive, but not over-bureaucratic, framework.