ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that social enterprises and social regeneration should be understood as a step toward a participatory economic system; otherwise, their social means and objectives will be compromised. It also argues that social capital could be of paramount importance in building a participatory economic system. The chapter provides the concepts and means to assess the locality's potential to build networks and partnerships for the promotion of broader developmental and welfare goals. It aims to theoretically and practically determine the ways in which social enterprises can build social capital and sustain the capacity of the organisation and locality for social regeneration as a path toward a participatory economic system. The chapter discusses the social enterprise as a vehicle for social regeneration. It also provides preliminary results of a case study conducted in Greece, where concepts of social economy and social entrepreneurship are rather novel and are promoted by EU-supported policies and funds to deal with the crisis in the country.
