A theoretical analysis of social entrepreneurship: The case of Poland and South Africa

As global trends are moving more towards social inclusion and green entrepreneurship, many countries are changing or altering the way they want their firms to engage in business. This has sparked the interest in social entrepreneurship. Although a lot of research has been conducted on this issue, fewer country comparisons are available. Because country comparisons could lead to an improved understanding of the topic, the aim of this study is to provide a theoretical analysis on social entrepreneurship comparing Poland and South Africa, specifically focusing on the history, challenges, policy and government support initiatives, flagship programs and future trends in this field. The study follows a qualitative approach using document analysis by way of an intensive literature study. Findings based on the analysis indicate that social entrepreneurship is a global phenomenon and although it is of imperative importance as a means to improved social conditions, several barriers and challenges, which are noticeable in Poland and South Africa, are prevalent. As with traditional for-profit businesses, a main barrier for social enterprises is access to finance.