Ideological evolution of social entrepreneurship: Insights from Chile 1960–2020

Abstract

Social entrepreneurship is often framed as a transformative force for addressing societal challenges, yet its ideological underpinnings remain underexplored, particularly outside of the Global North. This study addresses this omission by exploring the role of ideologies in shaping the evolution of social entrepreneurship in Chile between 1960 and 2020, a context marked by ideological polarisation as well as a vibrant contemporary social entrepreneurship sector. We use historical methods to explore the role of Catholic Social Teaching and neoliberalism in shaping approaches to social welfare, leading to social entrepreneurship’s emergence (1990–2010) and growth (2010–2020). Our findings reveal an ideological synthesis that forms the basis for contemporary social entrepreneurship, underpinned by dimensions of messianism, markets, and managerialism. By highlighting the role of religious and economic ideologies in structuring the field, we offer new insights into the contested nature of social entrepreneurship and its role in contemporary social change.

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