Social horizons of innovation: navigating technological revolutions towards a sustainable and locally developed future

Abstract

Innovation has been the subject of extensive debate in various disciplines. This article is positioned as a theoretical essay that explores the social horizons of innovation, tracing its evolution from the fourth technological revolution to social innovation in the post-Fordist context. Initially linked to Fordist capitalism and focused on individual efficiency, innovation is redefined in the fifth technological revolution, highlighting sustainability and community empowerment. Rather than a solution to specific challenges, social innovation is presented as a comprehensive guide to development, focusing on community empowerment and the incorporation of sustainable principles. This essay does not present empirical studies, but rather provides a conceptual framework for understanding the complexities of social innovation. Through the literature review, the interactions between theory, action and context are delineated, highlighting how historical elements condition the construction of meanings. Although this work focuses on theoretical development, the ideas presented here will lay the groundwork for future empirical studies that validate and extend the hypotheses put forward. This theoretical framework will not only contribute to the academic debate, but will also inspire research on the manifestation and evolution of social innovation in practice.