General introduction: the return of social innovation as a scientific concept and a social practice

Abstract

The challenges of poverty and social exclusion cannot be fully resolved through conventional public sector policies and market-led innovation. The case studies in this Handbook capture some of the key success factors of socially innovative action in different socio-economic contexts. This Handbook will inspire readers as it highlights the creativity and commitment of diverse enterprises and movements working for social innovation. Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka, Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements, United Republic of Tanzania, and retired UN Under Secretary General, immediate former Executive Director of UN-HABITATSocial innovation may not be a new idea but it is clearly an idea whose time has come, not least because the traditional models of innovation narrowly framed technical models have run their course and no longer resonate in a world of societal challenges. This Handbook has two great merits it brings conceptual rigour to the debate and it provides compelling narratives of social innovation in practice. Kevin Morgan, Cardiff University, UK In an era where social innovation is re-emerging as an important policy framework for bringing social transformation, this volume is a significant contribution to the theory and practice of social innovation. The incremental discussion from concepts to theory to practice and then to social innovation research is supported by cases literally from all over the globe. It moves the discourse from isolated models of neighbourhood engagements and social enterprises, to a comprehensive, multidimensional approach combining needs, social relations and empowerment. A must read for academicians, learners, practitioners and policy makers alike. S. Parasuraman, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, India Social innovation is an important instrument for understanding how contemporary societies deal with social change and how social practices and policies intended to combat poverty and social exclusion are developed and implemented effectively. The Handbook offers a valuable contribution to the development of a clear, transdisciplinary and critical understanding of social innovation practices. The reader will find an in-depth discussion of the most important theoretical approaches to the concept and a thorough exposition of the epistemological and methodological framework for research in social innovation. The volume includes a number of interesting case studies in different areas of social change and issues of policy and governance. Enzo Mingione, University of Milano-Bicocca, ItalyThis enriching Handbook covers many aspects of the scientific and socio-political debates on social innovation today. The contributors provide an overview of theoretical perspectives, methodologies and instructive experiences from all continents, as well as implications for collective action and policy. They argue strongly for social innovation as a key to human development. The Handbook defines social innovation as innovation in social relations within both micro and macro spheres, with the purpose of satisfying unmet or new human needs across different layers of society. It connects social innovation to empowerment dynamics, thus giving a political character to social movements and bottom-up governance initiatives. Together these should lay the foundations for a fairer, more democratic society for all. This interdisciplinary work, written by scholars collaborating to develop a joint methodological perspective toward social innovation agency and processes, will be invaluable for students and researchers in social science and humanities. It will also appeal to policy makers, policy analysts, lobbyists and activists seeking to give inspiration and leadership from a social innovation perspective. PART I: SOCIAL INNOVATION: FROM CONCEPT TO THEORY AND PRACTICE -- Introduction: Social Innovation at the Crossroads between Science, Economy and Society / Juan-Luis Klein -- 1. Social Innovation: Intuition, Precept, Concept, Theory and Practice / Frank Moulaert, Diana MacCallum and Jean Hillier -- 2. Social Innovation in Governance and Public Management Systems: Toward a New Paradigm? / Benoit Levesque -- 3. Social Innovation, Social Economy and Social Enterprise: What Can the European Debate Tell Us? / Jacques Defourny and Marthe Nyssens -- 4. Social Innovation in an Unsustainable World / Abid Mehmood and Constanza Parra -- 5. Social Innovation through Arts and Creativity / Diane-Gabrielle Tremblay and Thomas Pilati. 6. Microcredit as a Social Innovation / Arvind Ashta [and others] -- 7. Social Innovation for People-Centred Development / Lars Hulgard and P.K. Shajahan -- PART II: SOCIAL INNOVATION THEORY: ITS ROLE IN KNOWLEDGE BUILDING -- Introduction: Social Innovation -- An Idea Longing for Theory / Stijn Oosterlynck -- 8. Social Innovation Research: A New Stage in Innovation Analysis? / Bob Jessop [and others] -- 9. Social Innovation: A Territorial Process / Barbara Van Dyck and Pieter Van den Broeck -- 10. Social Sustainability: A Competing Concept to Social Innovation? / Constanza Parra -- 11. Theorizing Multi-level Governance in Social Innovation Dynamics / Marc Pradel Miquel, Marisol Garcia Cabeza and Santiago Eizaguirre Anglada. 12. Towards a Deleuzean-inspired Methodology for Social Innovation Research and Practice / Jean Hillier -- PART III: INSTRUCTIVE CASE STUDIES IN SOCIAL INNOVATION ANALYSIS -- Introduction: Social Innovation Experience and Action as a Lead for Research / Stuart Cameron -- 13. Just Another Roll of the Dice: A Socially Creative Initiative to Assure Roma Housing in North Western Italy / Tommaso Vitale and Andrea Membretti -- 14. From 'Book Container' to Community Centre / John Andersen, Kristian Delica and Martin Severin Frandsen -- 15. Venturing Off the Beaten Path: Social Innovation and Settlement Upgrading in Voi, Kenya / Emmanuel Midheme -- 16. Knowledge Building and Organizational Behavior: The Mondragon Case from a Social Innovation Perspective / Igor Calzada. 17. Going Beyond Physical Urban Planning Interventions: Fostering Social Innovation through Urban Renewal in Brugse Poort, Ghent / Stijn Oosterlynck and Pascal Debruyne -- 18. Social Innovation through the Arts in Rural Areas: The Case of Montemor-o-Novo / Isabel Andre, Alexandre Abreu and Andre Carmo -- PART IV: SOCIAL INNOVATION ANALYSIS: METHODOLOGIES -- Introduction: 'Reality' as a Guide for SI Research Methods? / Abdelillah Hamdouch -- 19. A Transversal Reading of Social Innovation in European Cities / Serena Vicari Haddock and Chiara Tornaghi -- 20. Qualitative Approaches for the Study of Socially Innovation Initiatives / Haris Konstantatos, Dimitra Siatitsa, Dina Vaiou -- 21. Research Strategies for Assets and Strengths Based Community Development / Nola Kunnen, Diana MacCallum and Susan Young. 22. Technological Incubators of Solidarity Economy Initiatives: A Methodology for Promoting Social Innovation in Brazil / Ana Dubeux -- 23. Partnership-based Research: Coproduction of Knowledge and Contribution to Social Innovation / Jean-Marc Fontan, Denis Harrisson and Juan-Luis Klein -- 24. Social Innovation in Public Elder Care: The Role of Action Research / John Andersen and Annette Bilfeldt -- 25. Reflections on the Form and Content of Participatory Action Research and Implications for Social Innovation Research / Len Arthur -- PART V: COLLECTIVE ACTION, INSTITUTIONAL LEVERAGE AND PUBLIC POLICY -- Introduction: The Institutional Space for Social Innovation / Diana MacCallum. 26. Learning from Case Studies of Social Innovation in the Field of Social Services: Creatively Balancing Top-down Universalism with Bottom-up Democracy / Flavia Martinelli -- 27. The Social and Solidarity-based Economy as a New Field of Public Action: A Policy and Method for Promoting Social Innovation / Laurent Fraisse -- 28. The Quebec Model: A Social Innovation System Founded on Cooperation and Consensus Building / Juan-Luis Klein [and others] -- 29. The Linkages between Popular Education and Solidarity Economy in Brazil: An Historical Perspective / Ana Cristina Fernandes, Andreas Novy and Paul Singer -- 30. Local Associations in Chile: Social Innovation in a Mature Neoliberal Society / Vicente Espinoza -- 31. Gender and Social Innovation: The Role of EU Policies / Isabel Andre. PART VI: FRONTIERS IN SOCIAL INNOVATION RESEARCH -- Introduction: The Pillars of Social Innovation Research and Practice / Serena Vicari Haddock -- 32. Innovative Forms of Knowledge Production: Transdisciplinarity and Knowledge Alliances / Andreas Novy, Sarah Habersack and Barbara Schaller -- 33. Holistic Research Methodology and Pragmatic Collective Action / Frank Moulaert and Abid Mehmood -- 34. Social Innovation for Community Economies: How Action Research Creates 'Other Worlds' / J.K. Gibson-Graham and Gerda Roelvink -- 35. Framing Social Innovation Research: A Sociology of Knowledge Perspective Frank Moulaert and Barbara Van Dyck.