On the theory of social innovations: Tarde's neglected contribution to the development of a sociological innovation theory

Jürgen Howaldt, Ralf Kopp, Michael Schwarz · 2015 · Social Science Open Access Repository (GESIS – Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences)

Summary. This paper develops a theoretical framework for social innovation by drawing on Gabriel Tarde's social theory, particularly his concepts of invention and imitation. The authors argue that social innovation functions as a specific mechanism of social change and propose that society itself should be understood as a site of innovation. Their work contributes to building an integrated theory of innovation applicable to analyzing and directing social transformation.

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Howaldt, J., Kopp, R., & Schwarz, M.. (2015). On the theory of social innovations: Tarde's neglected contribution to the development of a sociological innovation theory. Social Science Open Access Repository (GESIS – Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences). http://www.ssoar.info/ssoar/handle/document/41963

@article{howaldt-2015-theory-social-innovations-tarde-s,
  title   = {On the theory of social innovations: Tarde's neglected contribution to the development of a sociological innovation theory},
  author  = {Jürgen Howaldt and Ralf Kopp and Michael Schwarz},
  journal = {Social Science Open Access Repository (GESIS – Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences)},
  year    = {2015},
  url     = {http://www.ssoar.info/ssoar/handle/document/41963}
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - On the theory of social innovations: Tarde's neglected contribution to the development of a sociological innovation theory
AU  - Jürgen Howaldt
AU  - Ralf Kopp
AU  - Michael Schwarz
JO  - Social Science Open Access Repository (GESIS – Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences)
PY  - 2015
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Categories: innovation-theory, general-innovation
Added: 2026-04-28