Abstract:

Innovation as a recent topic of research in the social sciences has to be carefully studied with a critical perspective. Older approaches of innovation, e.g., Schumpeter´s approach, have already focused on the modernization of markets and on technological innovation. This approach has persisted many years for the interpretation and general understanding of innovation. More recent approaches recognize the relevance of markets and technological innovation like Schumpeter did, however, they also incorporate the modernization of institutions, organizations, and lifestyles as contemporary forms of innovation in society. Society is a stakeholder with potential to lead innovation and has participated in innovation in a variety of different ways. Civil participation in communities, for example, is a way to promote the role of the society as co-designer of new processes or ideas in urban, educational, social, and political issues. Communities usually pursue a better distribution of power or may pursue a deeper involvement in democratic processes. The goal of this presentation is to introduce a theoretical and practical perspective of innovation based on contemporary practices of societies, especially societies whose social structures suffer from high social inequality. Regional examples will be presented from Latin American countries whose civil society has become a designer of innovation.

Keywords:

Innovation, Civil Society.