The Role of Actors in Social Innovation in Rural Areas
Social innovation is gaining momentum in academia, policy and practice, as a process by which local communities generate new social relations and become more capable of addressing social needs and opportunities. However, there is significant ambiguity about the role of the different types of actors...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Land |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/5/710 |
| _version_ | 1797498544758718464 |
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| author | Néstor Vercher |
| author_facet | Néstor Vercher |
| author_sort | Néstor Vercher |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Social innovation is gaining momentum in academia, policy and practice, as a process by which local communities generate new social relations and become more capable of addressing social needs and opportunities. However, there is significant ambiguity about the role of the different types of actors involved in social innovation, particularly in rural areas. This article aims to examine which actors make social innovation in rural areas possible, and the roles they play in these processes. Drawing on 33 interviews carried out with key informants of three socially innovative initiatives developed in rural areas of Spain and Scotland, this paper illustrates the scale, role and logic of the actors involved. The findings of the study clarify the central role of local processes and local actors, the impact of facilitators and perceived neutrality. They also show the contribution of social economy organizations as an arena for coordinating plural networks and civil society initiatives. The way the public sector and LEADER participate in social innovation processes in rural areas are also reflected in the results. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:34:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-855d12bd4b294b6c805487a1cab10702 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-445X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:34:51Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Land |
| spelling | doaj.art-855d12bd4b294b6c805487a1cab107022023-11-23T11:47:49ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2022-05-0111571010.3390/land11050710The Role of Actors in Social Innovation in Rural AreasNéstor Vercher0Research Institute of Local Development, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, SpainSocial innovation is gaining momentum in academia, policy and practice, as a process by which local communities generate new social relations and become more capable of addressing social needs and opportunities. However, there is significant ambiguity about the role of the different types of actors involved in social innovation, particularly in rural areas. This article aims to examine which actors make social innovation in rural areas possible, and the roles they play in these processes. Drawing on 33 interviews carried out with key informants of three socially innovative initiatives developed in rural areas of Spain and Scotland, this paper illustrates the scale, role and logic of the actors involved. The findings of the study clarify the central role of local processes and local actors, the impact of facilitators and perceived neutrality. They also show the contribution of social economy organizations as an arena for coordinating plural networks and civil society initiatives. The way the public sector and LEADER participate in social innovation processes in rural areas are also reflected in the results.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/5/710rural developmentterritorial developmentfacilitatorssocial economyLEADERsocial relations |
| spellingShingle | Néstor Vercher The Role of Actors in Social Innovation in Rural Areas Land rural development territorial development facilitators social economy LEADER social relations |
| title | The Role of Actors in Social Innovation in Rural Areas |
| title_full | The Role of Actors in Social Innovation in Rural Areas |
| title_fullStr | The Role of Actors in Social Innovation in Rural Areas |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Role of Actors in Social Innovation in Rural Areas |
| title_short | The Role of Actors in Social Innovation in Rural Areas |
| title_sort | role of actors in social innovation in rural areas |
| topic | rural development territorial development facilitators social economy LEADER social relations |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/5/710 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nestorvercher theroleofactorsinsocialinnovationinruralareas AT nestorvercher roleofactorsinsocialinnovationinruralareas |