Searching for Local Answers to Societal Challenges: The Contribution of Civil Society Organizations and Social Innovations to Community Development

In the past decades, promotion of active citizenship and citizens’ engagement and opening of governance to citizens and civil society organizations (CSOs) have become prominent topics, both in scholarly literature and in policy agendas. Active citizens and stronger civil society have been envisaged as part of the solution to social exclusion, weakening social cohesion, rising social needs and other pressing societal problems. They are also attributed with potential for production of social innovations. Accordingly, the role and potentials of ‘community’ in dealing with different social issues have been rediscovered. The notions of civic engagement, co-production and social innovations have been particularly advocated for in deprived local communities, dealing with manifold social problems. However, research points to certain pitfalls and obstacles for effective citizens’ involvement in community projects, co-production and production of social innovations in deprived local communities. Hence, the importance and the role of professionals in these processes have been particularly stressed.