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Social entrepreneurship in South Africa: a different narrative for a different context

Social entrepreneurship in South Africa: a different narrative for a different context Purpose – This paper aims to contribute to a better understanding of the phenomenon of social entrepreneurship, paying special attention to the new narratives that are emerging about this phenomenon in the context of Africa. Design/methodology/approach – The paper addresses this issue, by comparing the meanings of what is called “social” in this context and in developed areas. The paper's particular interest in the use of language and narratives is grounded in the experience of how narratives and stories are genuinely constitutive and perfomative of people's actions. Findings – This paper reveals that “social” in the social entrepreneurship narratives does not necessarily have the same meaning in different contexts. Specifically, when the phenomenon is re‐interpreted in the context of the discourses that come from a developing area such as South Africa, it adds flexibility and a more local sense to the entrepreneurs' social missions. Research limitations/implications – The study was affected by the limited availability of published data on social entrepreneurship in Africa. Economic challenges and failures by governments to access donor funds have resulted in militant governance thereby reducing the role of social entrepreneurship to negligible levels. Originality/value – The study provides a narrative lens of looking at the challenges that social entrepreneurship is facing in Africa. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Social Enterprise Journal Emerald Publishing

Social entrepreneurship in South Africa: a different narrative for a different context

Social Enterprise Journal , Volume 8 (3): 15 – Nov 9, 2012

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References (82)

Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
Copyright © 2012 Emerald Group Publishing Limited. All rights reserved.
ISSN
1750-8614
DOI
10.1108/17508611211280755
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Purpose – This paper aims to contribute to a better understanding of the phenomenon of social entrepreneurship, paying special attention to the new narratives that are emerging about this phenomenon in the context of Africa. Design/methodology/approach – The paper addresses this issue, by comparing the meanings of what is called “social” in this context and in developed areas. The paper's particular interest in the use of language and narratives is grounded in the experience of how narratives and stories are genuinely constitutive and perfomative of people's actions. Findings – This paper reveals that “social” in the social entrepreneurship narratives does not necessarily have the same meaning in different contexts. Specifically, when the phenomenon is re‐interpreted in the context of the discourses that come from a developing area such as South Africa, it adds flexibility and a more local sense to the entrepreneurs' social missions. Research limitations/implications – The study was affected by the limited availability of published data on social entrepreneurship in Africa. Economic challenges and failures by governments to access donor funds have resulted in militant governance thereby reducing the role of social entrepreneurship to negligible levels. Originality/value – The study provides a narrative lens of looking at the challenges that social entrepreneurship is facing in Africa.

Journal

Social Enterprise JournalEmerald Publishing

Published: Nov 9, 2012

Keywords: Social entrepreneurship; Narratives; Africa; Entrepreneurialism

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