The collaborative dynamic in social entrepreneurship

Collaborative arrangements and partnerships are increasingly perceived as the lifeblood of social entrepreneurship. How, why and when collaboration occurs across the social entrepreneurial ecosystem is an emergent area of research emphasis with potential to contribute to and develop new theories as well as provide practical insights. This introductory article, for the special issue on ‘The Collaborative Dynamic in Social Entrepreneurship’, draws on extant literature and three original contributions to explore the nature and challenges of the collaborative imperative in social entrepreneurship and to present possible avenues for future research. It also comments on theoretical underpinnings and provides methodological insights for the future study of collaborative social entrepreneurship.