Social innovation theories: can theory catch up with practice?

In: Challenge social innovation: potentials for business, social entrepreneurship, welfare and civil society, S. 19-42

Abstract

"The paper describes ten sets of theoretical sources that have either influenced social innovation or provide useful insights. It argues that although the field has been led by practice rather than theory it now needs stronger theoretical foundations in order to progress. The theoretical sources described include: theoretical perspectives on social plasticity and change; evolutionary theories; complexity theories; theories of entrepreneurship; theories of dialectical change; theories from innovation studies; theories of techno-economic paradigms; theories concerned with the ends of innovation, in particular well-being and capabilities; and epistemological approaches to social innovation. In each case the author describes some of the main ideas and arguments, and their relevance to social innovation (and in some cases their key limitations). He then suggests ways in which these may be synthesized into an overall framework for social innovation that can generate useful and often testable hypotheses to guide practice." (author's abstract)