Abstract

In this paper we draw on earlier research into community-led rural development initiatives to advance understanding of the meaning and scope of "social innovation". Taking a Schumpeterian view, we assert that innovations emerge from new combinations of resources and should bring about positive changes to create value. Teasing out the key feature of social innovation, we re-visit data from 5 different national contexts. This allows us to develop a clearer understanding of social innovation as a key driver of development in rural areas and to identify where and how social value is created