If entrepreneurship is amid jungle of theories and has many theorists, its social orientation or what is known as social entrepreneurship (SE) is amid arid land of theories and suffers under-theorizing which could be inherently stemmed from its diversely proposed definitions. To be situated in an embryonic pre-paradigmatic phase, getting to a more unanimous definition in this realm is the first step in laying a solid foundation for SE theorizing. As a pioneering study, the paper aims to investigate the epistemological foundations of SE definitions critically to propose a more convergent definition for SE. To fulfill this goal epistemological justifications for the definitional components of SE are presented. Therefore, it was necessary to rely on the relevant philosophical schools of thought in Epistemology (e.g. Empiricism, Internalism, Externalism, Verificationism and Falsificationism); first to discuss the controversies and oppositions to some components of the definitions for their exclusion and then to justify some other definitional components which are mostly accepted by the scholars for their inclusion in a final SE definition. Critical approach has helped us in specifying the maneuvering of thoughts in this field and determining the epistemological and definitional boundaries of SE. Finally, a more epistemologically-supported and justified definition was presented at the end of the paper. Moreover, one of the potential contributions of this paper could be its consensusmaking impact among SE scholars in defining SE phenomenon, which could also pave the way for future theorizing in SE. The originality of the paper lies in the application of Internalism, Externalism, Verificationism and Falsificationism concepts to SE definitions.
Scholars of social entrepreneurship have yet to propose a classification of strategies employed by states to promote SE. The paper’s aim is to introduce a conceptual framework for state-sponsored SEs to fill this gap. Such a necessity rises out of the strategic study of the states’ role in the promotion of SE intra- and extraterritorially. The paper not only propose strategic mix for the formulation of state-sponsored SE, but also presented a conceptual framework based on the tendency of states toward four orientations of internationalism, internalism, governmentalism and volunteerism for pursuing SE in a macro-scale. Finally, four comprehensive SE strategies namely Opened Door Strategy, Closed Door Strategy, Global Citizen Strategy and Country Citizen Strategy based on the four orientations were proposed. The theoretical implication of the framework is in its contribution to the classification of governmentally promoted SE for a more clarified study and teaching of SEs in the academic context. Its practical implication is in its application as a guideline for sound formulation of SE strategies by public organisations in the public and third sector contexts.
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