SOCIAL INNOVATION AND

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Fredrik Björk, Malmö University

Participation

Active citizens The relationship between social

entrepreneurship, social innovation and public participation?

And with sustainable development?

The meaning of citizenship

Two different historical traditions: Individual rights (status) Obligations to a community

(practice) Participation as Citizen right –

antiquity, Greece, Rome Citizenship as obligation –

reaction to individualism in liberal political discourse

Citizenship?

Relation to democracy – governance

Force of both inclusion and exclusion

Relation to socially categories? How to become a citizen Q of state policy – also Q of

identity

Human agency

Citizenship as participation : expression of agency in the political arena

Challenging the construction of people as passive victims etc.

To be a citizen – to act as a citizen

Politics with a small ”p”

Challenges

What is democracy? The inactive citizen Welfare provision by business –

influence as consumer, not citizen – “marketization”

Importance of community participation

Impact on individuals as well as on the wider community (Putnam)

Social cohesion ”Social capital” – ”networks, norms

and trust” ”the capillaries of community life”

Social innovation – and citizenship Social innovation can also

be about being able to take part in the community

”The capabilities approach” (A. Sen)

If social innovation and social entrepreneurship is about citizens taking on the problems they face – then it’s obviously about governance

Methods Consultations Dialogue Face-to-face /

web (social media) Art/design ”The Open Book of Social

Innovation” (Young Foundation 2010)

http://www.nesta.org.uk/library/documents/Social_Innovator_020310.pdf

What do we need to create and innovate?

Motivation Expertise Creativity skills/ frameworkThis is valid for both social and commercial innovation

Innovation and organization/community?

OrganizationCommunity

Citizen/individual

What do we need to create & Innovate? Culture & climate supportive of

creativity and innovation A social environment Feedback

Culture

Process-oriented organizational structure

Dynamic culture Risk taking Resource availability

What do we not need?

Bureaucracy “by the book” Status Quo culture Power struggles Conservative environment Communication problems Only negative feedback

Social innovation

Early 20th century: FOR the citizens Late 20th century: WITH the

citizens 21st century: BY the citizens Why? Citizens get the solution they need Greater chance of sustainability