The Role of Social Innovation in Democracy

Democratic political institutions are being called into question and under threat, as we have seen in many parts of the world, including the United States, Western Europe, Brazil, and Hong Kong. The concentration of wealth and economic power in the hands of a few people and businesses is giving rise to the creation of new types of organizations and calls for a new type of economy in which the fruits of economic activity and power are shared more equally and democratically. Even within the social sector itself, nonprofit organizations and philanthropists are facing demands for greater inclusion, democratic governance, and power-sharing.

Join Stanford Social Innovation Review—the leading global publication on social change theory and practice—for our Frontiers of Social Innovation 2023 convening, "The Role of Social Innovation in Democracy," as we gather international leaders from nonprofit organizations, philanthropy, academia, research, business, and government. Over the course of three, half-day sessions, we will meet to question, debate, and discuss the relationship between social innovation and democracy and the role that social innovation plays in creating a more just and democratic society.

Be part of the conversation as we examine important topics, such as ...

• • Government: How does the rise of populism globally challenge democratic principles and institutions that underlie a just and equitable society? With democracy on the decline in multiple countries, how can the social sector work together to counter this threat?
  • Civil Society: How can nonprofit organizations create a more democratic governance structure? Should democracy be a core principle of social innovation? How can foundations work more democratically with the grantees that they serve?
  • Economy: What does a democratic economy look like? What lessons can be learned from experiments and approaches being tested in other countries? How does one create a business that is governed democratically?
  • Politics: Are there alternatives to democracy as a political system that are more just and equitable? Can social innovation flourish under systems that are not “democratic”? How can the emerging practice of political innovation drive positive change?