The Promise of Social Enterprise

by Mark Sampson

Is social enterprise yet another example of the expansion of the market into all areas of life and society, in this case the marketization of poverty? Or does it offer genuine hope as part of a solution to some of the challenges facing contemporary society, and as an example of an economy of mutuality? Framing this question theologically, does it offer the potential of "faithful economic practice"? The Promise of Social Enterprise makes the case that how we answer this depends on the language we use to describe—and perform—social enterprise. Arguing for the need to move beyond the narrow and reductionistic logic of mainstream economics, the economic nature of the language of gift and mutuality is explored. Drawing on the theological framework of Pope Benedict XVI and the work of John Barclay on Paul's understanding of the social implications of the Christ-gift, this book considers the contribution that a theology of gift, with its incongruity and mutuality, makes to the theory and practice of social enterprise.

172 pages, Paperback

Published July 26, 2022

Reviews

[Dustin Mailman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book that would benefit someone in higher education who is studying social enterprise, but not a boots on the ground social entrepreneur. It was helpful to conceptualize the innate hierarchy that exists in Christian languages of “gift,” and how the Christ-gift subverts that hierarchy; however, this text was so jargon laden that I found myself distracted by the general inaccessibility. This is one of the few pieces on social entrepreneurship that I’ve found that would be inaccessible to persons who don’t have a master’s degree (and maybe even higher). I found this text undoubtedly thought provoking and rich but mostly inaccessible.