Societal Entrepreneurship – a Cross-Boundary Force for Regional and Local Development

Authors

  • Malin Gawell Södertörn University and Umeå University, associated expert at Mid Sweden University 2012-2013
  • Anne Pierre Mid Sweden University
  • Yvonne von Friedrichs Mid Sweden University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58235/sjpa.v18i4.15661

Keywords:

Societal entrepreneurship, Social entrepreneurship, Community entrepreneurship, Local development, Regional development, Rural development

Abstract

This paper is based on results from the findings in the cross-disciplinary project on societal entrepreneurship in sparsely populated areas (SESPA). Studies within this project that take their point of departure in the societal or community-based entrepreneurship literature demonstrate how different contextual aspects as well as different perspectives enhance the understanding of why societal entrepreneurship is important for regional and local surroundings and development. The analysis of the studies within the SESPA project reveals societal entrepreneurship as a multifaceted and complex phenomenon interrelated with the local context as well as with national and even global developments. It is a cross-boundary force for local and regional development. The sub studies emphasize different aspects in which societal entrepreneurship in conclusion can be understood as local responses to local challenges, the multiplication of organizational missions, as well as collective solutions to diverse goals. The analysis emphasizes an intertextual vision of a ‘positive development’ in which societal entrepreneurship combines entrepreneurial drives with societal aims. Furthermore, the analysis reveals different, even multiple, reasons why societal entrepreneurship is cherished by different actors engaged in or related to the development – in this case of a sparsely populated region.

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Author Biographies

Malin Gawell, Södertörn University and Umeå University, associated expert at Mid Sweden University 2012-2013

Malin Gawell, PhD, is Associated Professor in Business Administration and interested in social and societal entrepreneurship both related to the social process of emergence in which individuals engage and interact with some kind of social mission as well as social and societal entrepreneurship roles in society. This interest has among other things led to publications such as “Activist Entrepreneurship” (2006), “Entrepreneurship in the Name of Society” (2009), and several articles related to this topic.

Anne Pierre, Mid Sweden University

Anne Pierre is a PhD candidate in business administration at Mid Sweden University in Östersund and focuses her research on community-based business development, economic development, and entrepreneurial activity in sparsely populated environments. She is engaged in a project that focuses on societal entrepreneurship in sparsely populated areas and also in an external research project through The Swedish Farmers’ Association (LRF). She has a great interest in the so-called “green industries”, or business development in the countryside.

Yvonne von Friedrichs, Mid Sweden University

Yvonne von Friedrichs, PhD, is Professor in Business Administration and Entrepreneurship at Mid Sweden University. She is currently also affiliated with Nord-Trøndelag University College as visiting professor. She has devoted her research to the understanding of the significance of individual and collective entrepreneurship for regional and local development. Her research interests include: social and societal entrepreneurship, women entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial networks, and tourism destination marketing and management.

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Published

2014-12-15

How to Cite

Gawell, M., Pierre, A., & von Friedrichs, Y. (2014). Societal Entrepreneurship – a Cross-Boundary Force for Regional and Local Development. Scandinavian Journal of Public Administration, 18(4), 109–130. https://doi.org/10.58235/sjpa.v18i4.15661

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