<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The article presents results from a research on the relevance and challenges of collaboration for the long-term sustainability of rural community enterprises. The study relies on Communities of Practice and Degrowth theories. Methods include semi-standardised interviews and focused ethnography in two community enterprises in rural areas in Germany and Portugal. Main results confirm the relevance of collaborative relations with residents, public sector, peer organisations and within the teams for both stability and transformative power of the organisations’ work. Respectful handling of privileges and balance in participation and professionalisation support sustainability, whereas institutional stagnation and involuntary degrowth may risk it.</p></abstract>

The article presents results from a research on the relevance and challenges of collaboration for the long-term sustainability of rural community enterprises. The study relies on Communities of Practice and Degrowth theories. Methods include semi-standardised interviews and focused ethnography in two community enterprises in rural areas in Germany and Portugal. Main results confirm the relevance of collaborative relations with residents, public sector, peer organisations and within the teams for both stability and transformative power of the organisations’ work. Respectful handling of privileges and balance in participation and professionalisation support sustainability, whereas institutional stagnation and involuntary degrowth may risk it.

Collaborative Patterns of Long-Term Sustainability in Community Social Enterprises: An International Comparative Case Study

Quaestiones Geographicae

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Public License.

The article presents results from a research on the relevance and challenges of collaboration for the long-term sustainability of rural community enterprises....

Collaborative Patterns of Long-Term Sustainability in Community Social Enterprises: An International Comparative Case Study

Published Online: Dec 18, 2020

Page range: 53 - 63

Received: Jul 15, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/quageo-2020-0033

Keywords
community enterprise, long-term sustainability, community of practice, case study, degrowth

© 2020 Sunna Kovanen, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Public License.

Collaborative Patterns of Long-Term Sustainability in Community Social Enterprises: An International Comparative Case Study

Published Online: Dec 18, 2020

Page range: 53 - 63

Received: Jul 15, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/quageo-2020-0033

Keywordscommunity enterprise, long-term sustainability, community of practice, case study, degrowth

© 2020 Sunna Kovanen, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Public License.

Keywords
community enterprise, long-term sustainability, community of practice, case study, degrowth