Latin America's grassroots approach to social innovation: Expanding the international debate

Abstract

In a world experiencing profound environmental, technological, and demographic shifts, welfare systems are being fundamentally reshaped, highlighting social innovation (SI) as crucial for addressing emerging societal challenges. This research examines the distinctive Latin American approach to SI, exploring its role in transforming regional welfare states whilst bridging the gap between Latin American and European perspectives. The theoretical framework combines SI theory with the quintuple helix model, emphasizing interactions among public bodies, businesses, academia, civil society, and citizens in fostering local innovation. Through comparative analysis of Argentinian and Brazilian cases, contrasted with Italian and British examples, this study employs ethnographic methods, questionnaires, and interviews. The findings reveal a uniquely Latin American SI approach, characterized by robust community engagement and university partnerships, diverging from market-driven European models. The research advances the global SI discourse by highlighting the significance of grassroots, collaborative initiatives, particularly within contexts of institutional and welfare system fragility.