The Geddes Institute Research Seminar Series

Knowledge Exchange for the Social Economy

Scotland and Japan

Deborah Peel

26 November 2004

ObjectivesObjectives

To map the emerging Japanese research To map the emerging Japanese research network between The Geddes Institute and network between The Geddes Institute and international partnersinternational partners

To outline the social economy research To outline the social economy research programme programme

To disseminate the research activities to dateTo disseminate the research activities to date

I. Japanese Connections: I. Japanese Connections: BackgroundBackground

University of NewcastleDr Kayo MurakamiCommunity development through partnerships

University of DundeeDr Kit Weddle Real estate and development

1. PhD students

Fieldwork

HIE

2. Research Activities to Date

Community Planning Capacity Seminar, Tokyo - Greg Lloyd, Deborah Peel (April, 2004)

Newcastle – Japan-UK ‘machidukuri’ – community planning and capacity seminarGreg Lloyd, Deborah Peel (September, 2004)

Local Knowledge exchange for empowering community capacities in small rural communitiesHIE and Deborah Peel (October, 2004)

3. DAIWA Research Applications

1. Deborah Peel + Kayo Murakami Rural Social Enterprises in Japan and Scotland: Spreading the Word

2. The Geddes Institute, Scottish Enterprise Tayside, Dundee City Council and the Advanced Research Institute for Science and Engineering (RISE) Waseda University

II. Research AgendaII. Research AgendaThe Social Economy: ContextThe Social Economy: Context

Bottom-up initiatives (eg Community Development Bottom-up initiatives (eg Community Development Trusts) have recently been given considerable Trusts) have recently been given considerable backing for their work through a significant shift in backing for their work through a significant shift in government policy in support of social enterprise, and government policy in support of social enterprise, and the launch of the government’s national Strategy for the launch of the government’s national Strategy for Social Enterprise.Social Enterprise.

The social economy sector, and social enterprise in The social economy sector, and social enterprise in particular - ‘at an all time high in terms of particular - ‘at an all time high in terms of prominence on the UK political agenda’ (Brady, prominence on the UK political agenda’ (Brady, 2003). 2003).

Social enterprises on the agenda?Social enterprises on the agenda? Social enterprises are businesses with primarily social objectives whose Social enterprises are businesses with primarily social objectives whose

profits or surpluses are principally reinvested in the business or in the profits or surpluses are principally reinvested in the business or in the community, rather than being created for shareholders and owners. community, rather than being created for shareholders and owners.

They address a wide range of social and environmental issues, and operate in They address a wide range of social and environmental issues, and operate in all parts of the economy. all parts of the economy.

In essence, they are characterised as offering the potential to: In essence, they are characterised as offering the potential to:

drive up economic productivity and competitiveness; drive up economic productivity and competitiveness;

contribute to socially inclusive wealth creation;contribute to socially inclusive wealth creation;

enable individuals and communities to work towards regenerating their local enable individuals and communities to work towards regenerating their local neighbourhoods; and neighbourhoods; and

build an inclusive society and promote active citizenship.build an inclusive society and promote active citizenship.

A Research Gap?A Research Gap? Social enterprise is ‘a term that increasing numbers of people have Social enterprise is ‘a term that increasing numbers of people have

heard but know precious little about’ (The Social Enterprise heard but know precious little about’ (The Social Enterprise Coalition, 2002). Coalition, 2002).

The UK government has asserted ‘an urgent need for research’ The UK government has asserted ‘an urgent need for research’ (DTI, 2002) - and are seeking to map the scope and scale of social (DTI, 2002) - and are seeking to map the scope and scale of social enterprise. enterprise.

Various studies have confirmed the need for more research to Various studies have confirmed the need for more research to establish the value of social enterprise (Paton, 2003; Social establish the value of social enterprise (Paton, 2003; Social Economy Taskforce, 2002). Economy Taskforce, 2002).

In sum, whilst there has never been greater enthusiasm for social In sum, whilst there has never been greater enthusiasm for social enterprise, there has also never been a greater need for further enterprise, there has also never been a greater need for further clarity (Peter Lloyd Associates, 2003). clarity (Peter Lloyd Associates, 2003).

Refining a research focusRefining a research focus An important part of the current agenda is to raise awareness and celebrate An important part of the current agenda is to raise awareness and celebrate

the success and entrepreneurial achievement of the social economy (DTI, the success and entrepreneurial achievement of the social economy (DTI, 2002). 2002).

In part, this is because there is a lack of a social enterprise "brand“, and a In part, this is because there is a lack of a social enterprise "brand“, and a limited awareness of social enterprise outside the sector (Brady, 2003). limited awareness of social enterprise outside the sector (Brady, 2003).

In this context, it is particularly important to be able to demonstrate how In this context, it is particularly important to be able to demonstrate how social enterprises meet both their ‘financial’ and ‘social’ bottom lines. social enterprises meet both their ‘financial’ and ‘social’ bottom lines.

Part of the difficulty facing social enterprises is the difficulty of pinning Part of the difficulty facing social enterprises is the difficulty of pinning down ‘what’ has been achieved. down ‘what’ has been achieved.

This is, in part, due to the problem of measuring the ‘social performance’ This is, in part, due to the problem of measuring the ‘social performance’ of social enterprises, since, as Paton (2003) argues, this is of social enterprises, since, as Paton (2003) argues, this is socially socially constructedconstructed in certain circumstances. in certain circumstances.

Theoretical FrameworkTheoretical Framework How societies socially construct or derive meaning for social How societies socially construct or derive meaning for social

reality provides a useful theoretical framework. reality provides a useful theoretical framework.

Attracting investment and business support is currently an Attracting investment and business support is currently an obstacle to the development of social enterprises (Leslie, obstacle to the development of social enterprises (Leslie, 2003). 2003).

Working Hypothesis: Working Hypothesis:

How successful informal approaches or formal strategies are in socially How successful informal approaches or formal strategies are in socially re-constructing the value of the social economy in the context of a re-constructing the value of the social economy in the context of a more formal economic system will be crucial to the long-term success more formal economic system will be crucial to the long-term success of social enterprises. of social enterprises.

Indicative Research QuestionsIndicative Research Questions What is the scientific authority for social enterprises?What is the scientific authority for social enterprises?

To what extent is society at large sufficiently aware of the To what extent is society at large sufficiently aware of the activities of social enterprises through the activities of activities of social enterprises through the activities of popularisers, the media, or other ways of dramatising the popularisers, the media, or other ways of dramatising the issue?issue?

What, if any, economic incentives exist to stimulate What, if any, economic incentives exist to stimulate behavioural change?behavioural change?

Does an institutional sponsor exist so as to ensure legitimacy Does an institutional sponsor exist so as to ensure legitimacy and appropriate intervention for the purposes of promoting and appropriate intervention for the purposes of promoting social enterprises?social enterprises?

(Hannigan, 1995)

Rural Social EnterprisesRural Social Enterprises

There is evidence that local collective action is There is evidence that local collective action is being mobilised in Japan in the pursuit of rural being mobilised in Japan in the pursuit of rural development (Lowe and Murakami, 2003) and development (Lowe and Murakami, 2003) and that similar innovations are being tried out in that similar innovations are being tried out in Scotland (eg CDTs in national parks).Scotland (eg CDTs in national parks).

The work of Highlands and Islands Enterprise.The work of Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Potential for international comparative work? Potential for international comparative work?

Issues for Knowledge ExchangeIssues for Knowledge Exchange How robust is our How robust is our AwarenessAwareness of the conditions, context and of the conditions, context and

local success of the intervention?local success of the intervention?

How robust is our How robust is our AssessmentAssessment of the comparability of the of the comparability of the problems being addressed and the local capacity?problems being addressed and the local capacity?

How How AdequateAdequate and and AccurateAccurate is the available information and is the available information and how robust is our interpretation of it?how robust is our interpretation of it?

How How ApplicableApplicable is the experience in its new setting? is the experience in its new setting?

(Wolman and Page, 2000)(Wolman and Page, 2000)

A Typology of Policy Learning Styles

Direct copyingDirect copying

InspirationInspiration

AdaptationAdaptation

HybridisationHybridisation

SynthesisSynthesis

(Rose, 1993)

Local Knowledge exchange for empowering community capacities in small rural communities

III. Research ActivitiesHayakawa Town

Yamanashi Prefecture

October 2004

Characteristics of HayakawaCharacteristics of Hayakawa

Demographic and Social Change - declining Demographic and Social Change - declining (only 1700 inhabitants) and ageing population (only 1700 inhabitants) and ageing population (45% over 65).(45% over 65).

Economic Change - a shift away from forestry Economic Change - a shift away from forestry and related craft-work, mining, and farming.and related craft-work, mining, and farming.

Japan Upper River Culture Institute Hayakawa, Yamanashi

1. Identify and capture local resources with community

study groups

2. Opportunities for interaction and sharing

information

3. Opportunities to influence policy (capacity building

though student engagement)

4. Support for regional development activities

Links with other research programmes

Fieldwork

ProjectsProjects

SeminarSeminar

DAIWADAIWA The Foundation seeks to promote links between the The Foundation seeks to promote links between the

UK and Japan through projects of mutual interest and UK and Japan through projects of mutual interest and benefit.benefit.

Professional and Grass-roots ExchangeProfessional and Grass-roots Exchange

Project Title: Community Planning: Finding Project Title: Community Planning: Finding Innovative Ways ForwardInnovative Ways Forward

Partners: RISE, Dundee City Council, Scottish Partners: RISE, Dundee City Council, Scottish Enterprise TaysideEnterprise Tayside

Action Research ProjectAction Research Project Community planning in Scotland is an attempt to better reflect Community planning in Scotland is an attempt to better reflect

community needs in the provision and delivery of public community needs in the provision and delivery of public sector services, and regenerate excluded communities. sector services, and regenerate excluded communities.

Building on the work of the Dundee Social Inclusion Building on the work of the Dundee Social Inclusion Partnership, Dundee Community Planning Partnership, and the Partnership, Dundee Community Planning Partnership, and the Tayside Economic Forum, this project will share research and Tayside Economic Forum, this project will share research and experience of communities in transition towards self-experience of communities in transition towards self-governance. governance.

In particular, the study will focus on the skills, knowledge and In particular, the study will focus on the skills, knowledge and pre-requisites of community leadership.pre-requisites of community leadership.

Study ApproachStudy Approach Participants in each city will be drawn from the host community and will Participants in each city will be drawn from the host community and will

target experienced community leaders and protagonists. target experienced community leaders and protagonists.

Teams of five (one academic, two practitioners, and two community Teams of five (one academic, two practitioners, and two community leaders) will participate in the international exchange. The specific events leaders) will participate in the international exchange. The specific events comprise:comprise:

Seminar-workshop and conference in Dundee (April, 2005) Seminar-workshop and conference in Dundee (April, 2005) Seminar-workshop and conference in Tokyo (October, 2005). Seminar-workshop and conference in Tokyo (October, 2005).

The seminar-workshops will show-case local community projects and The seminar-workshops will show-case local community projects and initiatives, and explore the potential for transferring lessons between east initiatives, and explore the potential for transferring lessons between east and west. and west.

The applied work will then be theorised in terms of the social construction The applied work will then be theorised in terms of the social construction of community in an uncertain and changing world.of community in an uncertain and changing world.