The ‘Re-Emergence’ of Social Enterprises in CEE and the CIS

This essay analyses the characteristics and the role of social enterprises in CEE and CIS countries. Following a brief introduction on the relevance of institutional pluralism for economies characterized by poorly developed markets and welfare systems under construction, the importance of social enterprise for those countries is emphasized. Starting from a definition of social enterprise grounded in the European tradition, and therefore considered more appropriate for these countries, focus then shifts on the history of both social entrepreneurial organizations and current social enterprise development paths in the region, with special regard to the role played by the social enterprise in fostering socio-economic development. Social enterprises are found to increase the supply of general goods and services for the community, generate new employment, contribute to a more balanced use and allocation of resources, and enhance the social capital at the local level.