Social innovation for urban liveability. Empirical evidence from the Italian third sector

Abstract

Large cities are currently at the centre of important growth trajectories, but social polarization and environmental degradation impair the daily life of many city dwellers. Social innovation has emerged as a promising approach to tackle the challenge of urban liveability. Nevertheless, our understanding of the processes through which social innovations are developed and managed in critical sectors for large cities is still somewhat limited. This paper has analysed 19 case studies pertaining to third sector organizations operating in large Italian cities to find out how they produce social innovations and enhance urban liveability. The empirical results have revealed that these initiatives address some of the previously neglected needs of citizens through a flexible mode of service provision and a gradual implementation of a bundle of services. In many cases, they include a diverse base of users and involve volunteers. Enhanced accessibility and equity have been shown to be the most pervasive liveability effects.

Social Innovation as a Support for the Visibility of Vulnerable Communities

“…More specifically, the consolidation of sustainable parameters from an economic, environmental, and social point of view, and the promoters of the inclusion of poorer individuals and communities, provide emancipatory states through which people can access the condition of a more dignified life. However, the practice of equity and the consolidation of fundamental rights are essential for social innovations to materialize organically and sustainably in our societies, especially because the promotion of ethical, political, and economic recognition of the most impoverished strata of society should not do without more egalitarian standards of social justice [14,55,[67][68][69][70][71].…”

“…It is noticed that in this community experience, social innovation happens as a social business, but also as an individual and collective transformation of the different actors involved. Hence, there is an ethical dimension of this social innovation: the community experience and the sharing of inclusive and solidary purposes generate transformations with an impact on the levels of participation, cooperation, empathy, affection, and appreciation [55,[67][68][69][70][71].…”

An analysis of overlapping terms to define articles key words

“…According to Malta and Pereira (2018) sustainable technology production is an articulated process based in ecological potential, environmental conditions and socio-cultural values. Garrone et al, (2018) stated that the concept of sustainable innovation is broad, focusing on the reduction on the effects that cause negative impact to the ecosystem.…”