‘Defourny and colleagues latest book is an important contribution to our understanding of the origins, growth and prospects for the social economy in Europe. Leading scholars blend established and novel theoretical perspectives with new data to place social enterprise and the third sector at the centre of future research, practice and policy debates.’ – Dr Helen Haugh, Senior Lecturer in Community Enterprise, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, UK‘Social enterprise has become a key dimension of development within the European third sector in the 21st century. It is both a noun, describing new forms of organization within the sector, and a verb, describing new forms of activity within organizations. The editors have assembled contributors comprising the leading scholars in this new field from across the EU. Drawing on the research co-ordinated by the EMES Network, their contributions explore some of the key theoretical and empirical challenges for third sector development posed by the impact of social enterprise.’ - Pete Alcock, Professor of Social Policy and Administration, Third Sector Research Centre, University of Birmingham, UK‘This timely book locates the EMES approach to social enterprise within the global context, with a particular focus on the governance of social enterprise and the third sector as a means of governance. The book outlines complex concepts clearly and will be of use to a wide range of audiences. Its main contribution is that critics can no longer argue that the social enterprise field is dominated by a lack of rigorous definitions and of conceptual clarity’ - Simon Teasdale, Senior Lecturer, Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health, Glasgow Caledonian University, UK‘This book places social enterprise, too often presented as an isolated, almost miraculous phenomenon, firmly within its political, economic and social context. Full of fresh insight and disruptive thinking, it will be of interest to academics and students alike.’ - Andy Brady, Course Leader, BA in Charity and Social Enterprise Management, Anglia Ruskin University, UK