Communities and social enterprises in the age of globalization
Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy
ISSN: 1750-6204
Article publication date: 21 August 2007
Abstract
Purpose
The goal of this paper is to develop a conceptual framework to understand the processes by which rural communities are using commons‐based social enterprises to engage global actors and forge local places.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses a four‐step conceptualization of commons‐based social enterprises within a complex world: deal with communities as complex systems embedded in larger complex systems, understand cross‐scale linkages between communities and other levels of organization, identify drivers of change, and build adaptive capacity to increase the resilience of communities in the face of globalization. The paper draws upon an international set of cases undertaken by the Centre for Community‐based Resource Management to illustrate each step.
Findings
Social enterprises are one means by which rural communities are negotiating with global actors through recent processes of globalization. The social enterprise provides a mechanism for rural people to secure tenure for common‐pool resources and allows them to make direct decisions regarding their management.
Research limitations/implications
To further develop the understanding of commons‐based social enterprises will require further integration of theory regarding commons and social enterprises.
Practical implications
States and development agencies lack enabling policies for commons‐based social enterprises that support the multiple goal strategies of rural communities for natural resources.
Originality/value
Commons and social enterprise literature have tended to exist in separate domains and this paper makes a first step toward their integration.
Keywords
Citation
Berkes, F. and Davidson‐Hunt, I.J. (2007), "Communities and social enterprises in the age of globalization", Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, Vol. 1 No. 3, pp. 209-221. https://doi.org/10.1108/17506200710779521
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited