A Social Capital Approach Towards Social Innovation

Abstract

This chapter explores the concept of social innovation linking the research on social capital to innovation in general and where possible to social innovation in particular. Based on an Ostromian definition of social capital, the relationships between social capital and social innovation are presented at three different levels. At a micro or individual level, the main focus is put on the role of the social innovator, at the meso or organizational level the role of social organizations as for example social enterprises are explored and at the macro level the idea of social capital is presented as a driver of social innovation in the experience of community development programs. This chapter evidence that academic literature addressing the mutual relationships between social capital and social innovation is scanty and therefore concludes offering some considerations for a future research agenda.