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Социальное предпринимательство как драйвер развития социокультурной среды малых территорий
The paper discusses the influence that social innovations based on social
entrepreneurship projects have over the sociocultural environment of small
territories. Social innovations have become a known development driver in
small territories by providing new opportunities for interaction between
actors. This has resulted in improved communication and increased capacity
for joint action. Growing cooperation networks address common issues,
promote social partnership and help create new socio-innovative ecosystems,
thus contributing to social capital. For this paper, we analysed semi-structured
interview data collected during a field study of 2018–2019 in Volosovsky
and Luzhsky districts, Leningrad region, and Kargopolsky and Velsky dis
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tricts, Arkhangelsk region. We interviewed representatives of forty-eight
governmental and non-governmental cultural projects and organizations in
all economic sectors. The study revealed that systemic strategic collaboration
between social entrepreneurs takes place with coordinating external influ
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ence. Business partnership and collaboration with no pragmatic reason develop
simultaneously. This developing interrelationship between such actors is
unique. Social entrepreneurship business models in small territories often
include cooperation with other projects and offer complimentary products
and services. Cooperation networks formed by social entrepreneurs actually
include various actors, which leads to sustainable ecosystems. Cultural events
and permanent platforms organized by social entrepreneurs are places where
social projects, small businesses and residents of the territories all interact
together. This environment forms new behaviour patterns that create new
partnerships. We recognize the potential of social entrepreneurship to become
a more substantial development driver in small territories, but more long-
term studies are required in this matter.