| Depending upon the way in which we choose to | | | | and public sectors. |
| view it, the strengths or weaknesses of the concept | | | | If the colonisation of the social and public sectors by |
| of social entrepreneurship lie in the fact that most of | | | | the language of business is accepted, the breakdown |
| its applications are in the form of a hybrid between | | | | of barriers between the sectors becomes normalised. |
| private, non-profit and public sectors. As described, | | | | However, the terms cited are in contrast to the |
| one such hybrid is found in non-profit organisations | | | | distinction between entrepreneurs who create social |
| with an entrepreneurial offshoot that generates | | | | or artistic capital rather than financial capital, with |
| revenue for the organisation’s social objectives. | | | | social capital referring to that which is valuable to |
| With greater emphasis on the private, for-profit | | | | communities. |
| sector, a hybrid model is emerging whereby | | | | On the other hand, opposition could arise from the |
| businesses lend money and expertise to non-profits. | | | | close association of the term |
| Increasingly, this latter model is linked to public | | | | ‘‘entrepreneur’’ with the creative |
| pressure for businesses to demonstrate a measure | | | | and destructive aspects of capitalism. Those who are |
| of social responsibility. | | | | concerned about the negative aspects of business |
| The most realistic and desirable way for any business | | | | will be resistant to the blurring of the boundaries |
| to be socially responsible is through what is called | | | | between public, private and civil society suggested by |
| ‘‘strategic philanthropy’’ - selected | | | | social entrepreneurship with the potential for |
| giving in areas tied directly to the company’s | | | | increased influence of business beyond the private |
| interests and in arenas that the company can justly | | | | sector. The non-profit sector has long been |
| claim to have knowledge and a direct stake. The use | | | | associated with the creation and maintenance of a |
| of the term clearly suggests an indirect financial | | | | strong civil society. Marketing of that sector then calls |
| return on the philanthropic investment. Indeed, the | | | | that association into question with concerns for the |
| exercise of traditional philanthropy does not make | | | | viability of an independent civil society. |
| good business sense as it does not provide a tangible | | | | Furthermore, if business has the power to choose |
| return. In a more refined consideration of types of | | | | which non-profits are to benefit materially through |
| philanthropy today, the notion of strategic | | | | socially entrepreneurial partnerships, what happens to |
| philanthropy yet emphasises that highly motivated | | | | those that are not chosen and therefore are |
| and visionary business leaders can bring together | | | | marginalised? |
| networks of organizations in new community | | | | A parallel can be drawn between the concept of |
| ventures. | | | | social entrepreneurship and that of sustainability |
| Like the term ‘‘strategic | | | | because sustainability is equally open to broad |
| philanthropy’’, ‘‘social | | | | interpretation. Like social entrepreneurship, |
| entrepreneurship’’ is an articulation, a | | | | sustainability can favour either the social and |
| combination of two concepts that do not naturally fit | | | | environmental or the economic sectors, depending |
| together and yet which seeks acceptance as | | | | upon which model is adopted. Strong sustainability |
| common sense. It is the lack of a natural fit that | | | | favours the social and environmental over economic |
| renders the term open to resistance and challenge. | | | | development, upholding the social values of a truly |
| Challenges, implicit or explicit, range from different | | | | civil society based social entrepreneurialism. |
| interpretations of how the terms might justifiably be | | | | Interpretations are derived from the beliefs and |
| joined to denial that they should be used together at | | | | experiences of individuals. Social entrepreneurs and |
| all. | | | | their work should ultimately be judged by the quality |
| Language is a key component in the shift towards | | | | of the social outcomes, and that assessment should |
| rationalization of the concept of social | | | | be made independently of the private interests of |
| entrepreneurship. This is because discourse | | | | those entrepreneurs. |
| acceptance precedes or runs in parallel with material | | | | With concepts and movements such as social |
| acceptance. Thus we see the emergence of terms | | | | entrepreneurship, environmental sustainability, and |
| that were previously restricted to the business | | | | social responsibility, it is crucial that we pay close |
| sector, such as ‘‘social venture | | | | attention to the persuasive uses of the terms as well |
| capital’’, ‘‘social return on | | | | as to their practical implication. All of them are |
| investment’’, ‘‘invest’’ | | | | contested, value-laden labels that can be used to |
| rather than ‘‘donate’’, | | | | reference a wide variety of interests, motives, |
| ‘‘revenue streams’’ and | | | | activities and outcomes. |
| ‘‘client groups’’ applied to the social | | | | |