Defourny, Jacques ; Université de Liège - ULiège > HEC-Ecole de gestion : UER > Economie sociale et systèmes économiques
Language :
English
Title :
The EMES "ideal-type" social enterprise as a compass
Publication date :
01 July 2013
Number of pages :
3 p.
Event name :
4th EMES International Research Conference on Social Enterprise (Opening plenary session)
Event organizer :
EMES International Research Network
Event place :
Liege, Belgium
Event date :
1-4 July 2013
By request :
Yes
Audience :
International
References of the abstract :
The EMES approach of social enterprise has sometimes been misunderstood because it was presented as an "ideal-type". Such a "ideal-type" social enterprise should not be seen at all as an ideal to be achieved. In Max Weber's terms, it is rather an abstract construction, a methodological tool analogous to a compass pointing out the Pole Star, which helps the observer to locate actual social enterprises in constellations (groups) within a whole galaxy.
