ABSTRACT
This chapter asks how the “do-it-yourself” democracy practiced by the new activists can be nurtured and supported. It makes six concrete proposals as to how to enable the emergence of citizens-led social innovations. In the development of research, it proposes to move from the design of rent-seeking technologies to transdisciplinarity. In the organization of the economy, it explores the potential of the social and solidarity economy as well as sustainable finance. In the design of public action, it proposes a shift towards an Enabling State – one that learns and encourages experimentation –, as well as a move away from mandates and towards empowerment of social actors. Contrary to the cliché of citizens-led social innovations that emerge spontaneously, the environment matters. While innovation, by definition, cannot be “planned”, by creating the right breeding ground, we can increase our chances of reaping the benefits from the imagination of communities.
