Social Sustainability: Exploring the Role of Social Enterprises
2014 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (One Year))
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
The degradation of the ecological and social systems has largely resulted from human activities that deplete natural resources and undermine human needs in society. Traditional business culture, driven mainly by profit maximization, is a factor that has worsened this sustainability challenge. Social enterprises (SEs) are a form of business that hold the potential to help make the transition towards a sustainable society. The purpose of this study is two-fold. First, it explores SE contributions to creating a sustainable social system. Second, it examines how SEs exhibit the dimensions of trustworthiness, leading to trusting relationships in society. Social sustainability principles (SSPs) define social sustainability and are drawn from the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development. They are used as a foundation for identifying SE contributions. The researchers draw on experiences from social entrepreneurs and experts in the field of social entrepreneurship. SEs contribute at two levels: the individual level and the societal level. They break down barriers to the SSPs and provide opportunities to individuals with respect to the five principles. SEs operate based on a culture of impartiality and create opportunities for meaning for individuals in their target groups. They consistently take leaps of faith, believing in the trustworthiness of those who are otherwise deemed untrustworthy.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2014. , p. 59
Keywords [en]
Trust, Social Enterprise, Impartiality, Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development, Sustainable Social System, Social Exclusion
National Category
Other Social Sciences not elsewhere specified Social Sciences Interdisciplinary
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:bth-2544Local ID: oai:bth.se:arkivexB6C40CF66D2E137CC1257D00006EE324OAI: oai:DiVA.org:bth-2544DiVA, id: diva2:829827
Educational program
SLASL (Master programme in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability
Uppsok
Social and Behavioural Science, Law
Supervisors
2015-04-222014-06-232018-01-11Bibliographically approved