Social innovation a solution for marginalising rural areas? XXVI ESRS congress, 18 th August 2015, Bettina Bock

Transcription

1 Social innovation a solution for marginalising rural areas? XXVI ESRS congress, 18 th August 2015, Bettina Bock

2 Why talking about social innovation? It s popular and all around us It s problematic Policy shaping research agenda Selling austerity measures Old wine in a new bottle It s promising Offers an interesting new entrance 2

3 How does it raise my interest? Social innovation underlines rural marginalisation is part of broader processes of social change; rural development is social and relational and results from social interaction and collaboration 3

4 What to do today? Central question Why may social innovation enable us to fight rural marginalisation and if so, which conditions must be met? 1. What is social innovation? 2. What is the problem in marginal rural areas? 3. What do initiatives for social innovation do? 4. What distinguishes and adds social innovation? 5. When may social innovation work? 4

5 1. What is social innovation Multiple definitions with common elements: Innovation = social process Civic action, social collaboration and social learning (social mechanisms of innovation) Unmet social needs as desirable outcomes (social responsibility of innovation) Society as arena and object of change - to meet big challenges (innovation of society) 5

6 Specifically, we define social innovations as new ideas (products, services, models) that simultaneously meet social needs (more effectively than alternatives) and create new social relationships or collaborations. They are innovations that are not only good for society but also enhance society s capacity to act. (Bureau of European Policy Advisors, 2011) 6

7 2. What is the problem in marginal rural areas? Traditionally: geographical remoteness ~ backwardness primary sector dominance, weak infrastructure, low education/income More recently: relational remoteness ~ connectivity Marginalisation may occur everywhere Is geography irrelevant then? 7

8 Marginal areas - depopulating areas Social innovation, here?? 8

9 3. What do initiatives for social innovation do? Three examples of social innovation 1. DORV 2. Broadband internet cooperatives 3. Care cooperatives 9

10 3.1 DORV services and local all-around care DORV local shops offering multifunctional services Concept rolled out by private firm All around care food & services & social/medical care & culture & communication ICT connectivity Cost effective no profit Local supplier & investment local economy External supported civic action 10

11 3.2 Broadband internet cooperative (boekelnet) Unfulfilled promise of ICT connectivity in the rural Cooperatives of citizens, local governments and local businesses Bundling user interest Negotiating with network suppliers about costs and type of network Open network under cooperative management as proof of vitality and autonomy 11

12 3.3 Care cooperatives In NL start in 2005, now +/- 50 initiatives Initiative of citizens & health care institutions Aim: local care facilities for elderly and disabled citizen Principle: small-scale care nearby Health care innovation mutuality & solidarity & voice 12

13 Social innovation as reflected in these examples: 1. Important role for collective civic action with self-help and autonomy as important values; 2. Non-profit yet business-like professional organisation (social enterprise); 3. Novel collaboration between citizens, business, third sector and government across local/rural borders; 4. Substituting public services through specialised functional civic networks; 13

14 5. Substitution also as chance for redesign with more quality and ownership; 6. Element of resistance, opposition and struggle for social change; 7. New technologies as enabler of citizen action; 8. Problem of inclusivity of cooperative services. 14

15 4. What distinguishes and adds social innovation? Shared elements with earlier concepts: Endogenous development: faith put into collective action & citizen engagement Neo-endogenous development: Importance of external relations and connectivity Relational place making: Rebuilding a positive sense of place 15

16 New elements: Context of welfare state reform/austerity ICT for self organisation, sharing economy New importance of self-reliance & self organisation Less trust in state support civic withdrawal Developing alternatives beyond the local Positive re-labelling of the rural Collaboration with large and distant partners 16

17 5. When may social innovation work? Citizen action requires Social capital & social cohesion at local level Sense of belonging & local engagement Charismatic leaders & entrepreneurial people Access to external networks In depopulating rural areas??? EU underlines the role of the state In this time of governmental retreat?? 17

18 So, what then to do? Broader processes of change rural marginalisation Not locally produced and not to be solved locally RD as shared concern : SI as shared endeavour Collaboration across space From born from within to born through reconnection 18

19 Conclusion Social innovation builds on earlier concepts of RD New elements reflect changing political economy of RD Problematic and promising Theoretical shift from fixed rural actors to fluid networks From (neo)-endogenous to nexogenous development? 19

20 Thank you for your attention 20