Sandro Cattacin

Bio: Sandro Cattacin is an academic researcher from University of Geneva. The author has contributed to research in topics: Welfare state & Civil society. The author has an hindex of 15, co-authored 107 publications receiving 815 citations. Previous affiliations of Sandro Cattacin include University of Fribourg.

Social Innovation: A Sympathetic and Critical Interpretation

Abstract: The first chapter of the book, by Taco Brandsen, Adalbert Evers, Sandro Cattacin and Annette Zimmer, describes the basic assumptions, aims and methodology of the project from which the empirical evidence is drawn. It emphasises the importance of analysing social innovation in context and of avoiding uncritical interpretations of social innovation as inherently good. The chapter ends with an overview of the other chapters.

Urban Governance and Social Innovations

Abstract: This chapter highlights the urban governance arrangements identified by the European project Welfare Innovations at the Local Level in Favour of Cohesion (WILCO). These arrangements provide very different opportunity structures for social innovations. They are characterised by four dimensions: The governance of cooperation, characterised by a general orientation on innovation in politics and economics, the search of synergies between economics and social policies to foster the urban character of the city; the governance of growth, which prioritises economics and economic interest groups; the governance of social challenges that develops social policies through state-oriented initiatives coordinated with private non-profits; and the conflicting governance of social and economic challenges. The latter describes policy developments based on a concurrence for public investment in economic or social initiatives.

Social Innovations in the Urban Context

Abstract: This book addresses the practice of social innovation, which is currently very much in the public eye. New ideas and approaches are needed to tackle the severe and wicked problems with which contemporary societies are struggling. Especially in times of economic crisis, social innovation is regarded as one of the crucial elements needed to move forward. Our knowledge of its dynamics has significantly progressed, thanks to an abundance of studies on social innovation both general and sector-specific. However, despite the valuable research conducted over the past years, the systematic analysis of social innovation is still contested and incomplete. The questions asked in the book will be the following: 1. What is the nature of social innovations? 2.What patterns can be identified in social innovations emerging at the local level? 3.How is the emergence and spread of social innovations related to urban governance? More precisely, which conditions and arrangements facilitate and hinders social innovation? We explore these questions using different types of data and methods, and studying different contexts. In particular, we focus on innovations that aim at solving problems of the young unemployed, single parents and migrants. This analysis is based on original research carried out in the period 2010-2013 in the framework of a European project with a specific empirical research strategy. Research was carried out in 20 cities in 10 different European countries.

Prishtina la paradoxale ou l’innovation dans un environnement adverse

Abstract: Les villes se caracterisent par la mobilite humaine. Cette derniere et la concentration de differences qui en resulte favorisent la creativite et font des villes les moteurs de la production, de l’innovation et de la croissance. Ce livre a pour objectif d’etudier les ressorts de l’innovation dans un contexte urbain specifique et encore peu etudie, celui de la ville de Prishtina au Kosovo. Sur la base d’un travail de terrain effectue aupres de quatre organisations (Down Syndrom Kosovo, Termokiss, Artpolis et Innovation Center Kosovo), le present travail decrit les origines, motivations, fonctionnements et logiques de ces organisations qui ont pour point commun d’avoir cherche a innover afin d’avoir un impact sur leur contexte urbain.

The third sector in Switzerland: The transformation of the subsidiarity principle

Abstract: This article analyses the role of non‐profit organisations in the construction of the modern Swiss welfare system. It is shown that the non‐profit organisations shifted from a substitutive role (with a traditional society orientation) towards a complementary role (with more state‐orientated strategies). Our main argument is that this evolution is marked by the environment of the non‐profit organisations, in particular the political opportunities. More precisely, whereas the liberal state of the nineteenth century only intervened when civil society failed in solving its problems according to the principle of subsidiarity, the modern welfare state incites civil society to deal with the problem.