Ethos and epistemology of social innovation

Key words: social innovation; ethos; environment; epistemological analysisSocial innovation (SI) is becoming increasingly important in academia and society as the topic of production of benefits for individuals and groups... [ view full abstract ]

Key words: social innovation; ethos; environment; epistemological analysis

Social innovation (SI) is becoming increasingly important in academia and society as the topic of production of benefits for individuals and groups gains almost consensual acceptance.  However, two elements can lead to inconsistencies and to the trivialization of SI as a theoretical and empirical field committed to social transformation. First, we highlight a question about the legitimacy of using the term innovation - historically linked to technological advances used in favour of capital expansion - for the production of social value (FERRARINI, 2016). Furthermore a conceptual imprecision of the term has been identified, which can be attributed to the advancement of contemporary analytical perspectives (related to transformative practices and micro-social dynamics) and their liberal use from a simplistic perspective (to refer to practices associated with rationalization of the welfare state and commodification of welfare) (MOULAERT, MACCALLUM, MEHMOOD & HAMDOUCH, 2013). Secondly, there is the difficulty of evaluation and discrimination of what actually is SI.

In Brazil there is an example of this through the distrust on SI shown by scholars from the field of social sciences in general and the predominance of studies in the field of business and in the form of cases. Thus, the text proposes a critical and reflective analysis of IS through the notion of ethos applied to each environment (public, business or social) in which the practice is produced. In this study, the SI ethos will be composed by three elements: economic rationality, ethical-political intentionality (linked to income) and democratic intensity (linked to the process). This is a theoretical research performed by analysis of the Brazilian and international literature.

Ethos is a sociological discursive and interactive concept, but with essentially practical interest, which indicates features of a group and acquires social and cultural identity value. In order to materialize the concept of ethos in this study, the underlying economic rationality of innovative practice considers Polanyis' contribution on formal and substantive economy and will question the limits and possibilities of SI produced under different logics. What are the limits of SI produced in a market environment aimed at maximizing profit? Is it necessary (or essential) to consider the multiple economic principles that are invariably present in socially innovative processes - and often hidden under the hegemony of formal logic - to grasp them appropriately?

As for the ethical-political intentionality, ethos allows asking "for what" and "for whom" SI is produced, which corresponds to the product (tangible and intangible) and their ownership, considering sustainability as consequent criteria.

As for the democratic intensity, it answers “how” SI is produced and corresponds to the process, with participation as a basic criterion, with grades ranging from the informative to self-management level.

The results demonstrate that the SI produced in the market environment is more challenging due to its immersion in a mercantile rationality as the externalization of social and environmental costs is a key factor of competitiveness. Its ethos is linked to the imperative of profit. If SI is analyzed in multiscalar form, the challenge set is: to innovate and integrate into a system which in itself excludes?

The SI produced by the State is associated with the transformation of public management structures as a way of including dominated interests and improving efficiency. It is essential, but it should be remembered that these are capitalist States, which survive through the revenues resulting from economic growth. In addition, the equivalent of making a profit in the public sphere is lobbying for the political-party system.

The ethos of SI produced by civil society (field of popular alternatives, social movements and organizations) consists of processes of struggle for rights and social transformation. Although the literature correctly emphasizes greater coordination between State, market and civil society, it is essential to recognize that SI usually happens outside the institutions and often against them. The social environment is a genuine locus of SI, but can also host authoritarian leaders and dynamics and be less favourable to SI.

The study concludes that, despite being a relatively new field of study, SI is included in the dense sociological debate about social transformation and requires deep studies. It is hoped that the notion of ethos of IS and its constituent elements can contribute to the development of criteria and indicators focused on research about practices developed in different environments and production of theoretical-epistemological and methodological analysis on the topic. The distinction of ethe, rather than demarcating rigid boundaries, is intended to make porous boundaries clearer and contribute to a socially and cognitively fairer analysis.

MOULAERT, F.; MACCALLUM, D.; MEHMOOD, A.; HAMDOUCH, A. (2013). The international handbook of social innovation. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Limited.

FERRARINI, A. (2016). O ethos da inovação social: implicações ético-políticas para o estudo de práticas produzidas em diferentes ambientes. Revista Contemporânea, 6(2): 477-466.