Social innovation: a preliminary exploration of a contested concept

• Published in: Local environment Vol. 26; no. 7; pp. 791 - 807
• Main Authors: Slee, Bill, Burlando, Catie, Pisani, Elena, Secco, Laura, Polman, Nico
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Routledge 03-07-2021; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Contestation; Discourses; Europe; Innovations; policy implications; Social factors; Social innovation
• ISSN: 1354-9839; 1469-6711
• DOI: 10.1080/13549839.2021.1933404

This paper explores the contested concept of social innovation by using the ideas of discourse and framing as a lens to explore the contested definitions of social innovation. A selection of definitions is then deconstructed in relation to these discourses and framings. It is argued that the political pressures which create interest in social innovation have resulted in a confused and contested series of definitions, which remain largely unconnected to wider debates and theories about innovation. Instead, many authors contrive an almost alchemic status for social innovation when the reality of social innovation in practice may be rather more prosaic.