The concept of organizational hybridity describes entities that integrate diverse institutional elements, blending characteristics from the state, market, and civil society domains. At the intersection of market-driven logic and social missions—where private initiative converges with the goals of civil society—social enterprises emerge as emblematic examples of hybrid organizations, balancing social well-being with market-oriented principles. Most social enterprises worldwide are founded by wealthier individuals who aim to address the problems of the poor. Rarely are people at the base of the pyramid perceived as the protagonists in solving the challenges they face. Instead, they are often seen merely as customers, producers, or beneficiaries. This course will explore the concepts, challenges, and opportunities of social enterprises in emerging markets, with a particular focus on Brazil. Furthermore, it aims to adopt a critical, decolonial perspective on social entrepreneurship, emphasizing bottom-up approaches to social problems rooted in ancestral and communitarian logics.
