Abstract
This article analyses the emerging social enterprise sector in Romania, examining how organisations navigate the tension between market-based revenue generation and social mission fulfilment within a post-communist institutional context. Through case study analysis of 12 social enterprises across different sectors, the research maps the landscape of social entrepreneurship in Romania.
Key Findings
The Romanian social enterprise sector displays distinctive characteristics shaped by the country’s post-communist transition:
- Social enterprises in Romania operate primarily in work integration, social services, and community development
- The legal framework for social enterprises remains underdeveloped, creating barriers to growth and sustainability
- EU-funded programmes have been the primary catalyst for social enterprise development, creating dependency on external funding
- Traditional cooperative forms coexist with new social enterprise models, reflecting Romania’s complex institutional legacy
- The tension between market competitiveness and social inclusion objectives is particularly acute in work integration social enterprises
Methodology
The study employs a multiple case study approach, examining 12 social enterprises across three Romanian regions. Data collection included semi-structured interviews with social enterprise managers and beneficiaries, financial document analysis, and participant observation.
Implications
The findings contribute to understanding how social enterprise develops in post-communist contexts where both market institutions and civil society organisations are still maturing. The article provides recommendations for policy frameworks that can support social enterprise growth while maintaining social mission integrity, particularly relevant for other Central-Eastern European countries developing their social enterprise ecosystems.
