Scholarly record

SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE SPHERE OF SOCIAL SERVICES: PROBLEMS OF DEVELOPMENT IN RUSSIA (ON THE EXAMPLE OF REPUBLIC OF KARELIA)

Yu. Petrovskaya

Abstract

The research is devoted to the analysis of social entrepreneurship in the sphere of social service and problems of its development in Russia. Social entrepreneurship is one of the tools of modernization of the Russian social sphere and a source of additional resources, as well as innovative technologies. At the same time, its formation as a social institution in Russia is hampered by a number of barriers and difficulties. On the basis of empirical research the features of social entrepreneurship development in Russia on the example of the regional experience of the Republic of Karelia are studied. The hypothesis of the study was the assumption that the main barriers to the development of social entrepreneurship in the social service system are administrative obstacles, as well as attitudes and stereotypes among the population. Research methods: analysis, comparative method, generalization, sociological interviewing, expert interview. On the example of the Republic of Karelia, the main factors hindering the development of social entrepreneurship in the sphere of social services were empirically identified: administrative and bureaucratic barriers; the lack of readiness of the population to introduce innovations in the social sphere; the lack of basic competencies of the innovation economy. The main research findings are following. The development of social entrepreneurship in Russia has significant regional features and depends on support from state institutions. Social entrepreneurs in Karelia are focused on local mitigation of acute social problems and elimination of the deficit of certain social services. It is too early to talk about competition in the market of social services and the struggle for a higher quality of their provision, as well as about reducing the burden on state social institutions. Social entrepreneurs in the Republic of Karelia as a professional community and a special social group are only being formed and need institutional, information, financial and other support from the government.

Publication details

Back to publication list