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Social Enterprise in the United States and Europe: Understanding and Learning from the Differences

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2026

Janelle A. Kerlin
Janelle A. Kerlin*
Affiliation:
Department of Public Administration and Urban Studies, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 3992, Atlanta, GA 30302-3992, USA
*
e-mail: jkerlin@gsu.edu
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Abstract

Since the 1980s both the United States and Europe have experienced a simultaneous expansion in social enterprise. However, little has been written comparing and contrasting American and European conceptions of social enterprise resulting in difficulty communicating on the topic and missed opportunities to learn and build on foreign experience. To address this need, this paper compares and contrasts American and European social enterprise through an extensive review of literature from the two regions and discussions with social enterprise researchers on both sides of the Atlantic. It outlines the definitions of social enterprise used by American and European academics and practitioners, identifies historical factors promoting and shaping different conceptions of social enterprise, and highlights the differing institutional and legal environments in which it operates. It concludes by identifying what Americans and Europeans can learn from each others’ experience with social enterprise.

Résumé

Résumé

Depuis les années 1980 à la fois les Etats-Unis et l’Europe ont expérimenté une expansion simultanée dans le domaine de l’entreprise sociale. Cependant, peu a été écrit pour comparer ou opposer les conceptions Américaines et Européennes de l’entreprise sociale d’où résulte la difficulté de communication sur le sujet et les opportunités manquées pour apprendre et construire sur l’expérience étrangère. Pour aborder ce besoin, cet article compare et oppose l’entreprise sociale Américaine et Européenne au travers d’un examen approfondi de la littérature des deux régions et de discussions avec les chercheurs de l’entreprise sociale des deux côtés de l’Atlantique. IL souligne les définitions de l’entreprise sociale utilisées par les universitaires et praticiens Américains et Européens, il identifie les facteurs historiques promouvant et formant différentes conceptions de l’entreprise sociale, et souligne les différents environnements institutionnels et légaux dans lesquels il évolue. Il conclu en identifiant ce que les Américains et Européens peuvent apprendre de l’expérience de chacun de l’entreprise sociale.

Zusammenfassung

Zusammenfassung

Seit den achtziger Jahren haben sowohl die Vereinigten Staaten als auch Europa simultan eine große Ausweitung des sozialen Engagements erlebt. Es gibt bisher jedoch kaum Vergleichsarbeiten darüber, in welchen Punkten amerikanische und europäische Auffassungen von sozialem Engagement voneinander abweichen. Dies hat dazu geführt, dass es sehr schwierig ist, sich über das Thema auszutauschen und dass Gelegenheiten voneinander zu lernen und aus den Erfahrungsschätzen des jeweils anderen zu schöpfen kaum wahrgenommen wurden. Um dieser Notwendigkeit zu begegnen, vergleicht und kontrastiert diese Studie amerikanische und europäische Aktivitäten in diesem Bereich. Sie konsultiert umfassend die Arbeiten beider Kontinente in Bezug auf dieses Thema und befragt Forscher auf beiden Seiten des Atlantiks in Bezug auf Ihre Studien über das soziale Engagement. Die Studie zeigt die jeweilige Definition sozialen Engagements auf, wie sie von amerikanischen und europäischen Akademikern und Fachmännern verwendet wird. Auch werden die historischen Faktoren skizziert, durch welche die verschiedenen Konzepte von sozialem Engagement gefördert und geformt wurden. Darüber hinaus wird aufgezeigt, inwiefern das soziale Engagement in jeweils unterschiedlichen institutionellen und rechtlichen Kontexten erfolgt. Es wird abschließend auf einige Bereiche hingewiesen, in denen Amerikaner und Europäer aus den Erfahrungen des jeweils anderen in Bezug auf soziales Engagement lernen können.

Resumen

Resumen

Desde la década de los 80, tanto Estados Unidos como Europa han experimentado una expansión simultánea en cuanto a iniciativas sociales. Sin embargo, existen pocos artículos escritos que comparen y contrasten los conceptos que estadounidenses y europeos tienen a propósito de las iniciativas sociales. Como consecuencia de ello, hay dificultades de comunicación en la materia y se han perdido oportunidades de aprender e imitar las buenas prácticas extranjeras. Con la intención de llenar ese hueco, este trabajo compara y contrasta las iniciativas sociales europeas y estadounidenses a través de un análisis crítico de la documentación relacionada en los dos contenientes, y de diálogos con investigadores de iniciativas sociales de ambos lados del atlántico. Resume las definiciones de iniciativa social utilizadas por los teóricos y especialistas, identifica los factores históricos, promoviendo y perfilando los distintos conceptos de iniciativa social existentes, y destacando los diversos entornos institucionales y jurídicos en los que operan. Para concluir, identifica aquellas experiencias de cada una de las partes que pueden servir de ejemplo a la otra.

Keywords

Social enterpriseThird sectorUnited StatesEurope

Information

Type
Original Paper
Information
Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations , Volume 17 , Issue 3 , September 2006 , pp. 247 - 263
Copyright
Copyright © International Society for Third-Sector Research and The Johns Hopkins University 2006

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Footnotes

An earlier version of this paper appeared as part of the ARNOVA Occasional Paper Series as “Social Enterprise in the United States and Abroad: Learning from Our Differences,” in R. Mosher-Williams (ed.), Research on Social Entrepreneurship, ARNOVA Occasional Paper Series 1(3), 2006.

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