From the introduction:

In recent years, economic and social science has concentrated on defining the expression of “social innovation” (SI). This expression can be understood as a change, taking place in different sectors or on different levels of society leading to improvements of current circumstances. This is a fuzzy definition showing that all relevant variables necessary for understanding social innovation must be investigated and defined precisely. In the summer of 2019, a field trip visited five different communities in the Amazon rainforest. Due to a relatively isolated way of life, these communities were chosen for a case study to rethink and validate existing definitions of social innovation.

In this paper, mainly deductive components can be identified that are realised with a qualitative interview-based approach.

First, this paper develops a theoretical horizon considering several definitions of social innovation. Secondly, this theoretic model is first combined with a sociologically and functionally differentiated perspective of societies. Thirdly, when combining these two definitions, a matrix of sub-systems and SI was developed for comparing and analysing the findings.

To apply the leading question of this paper, namely how an adequate definition of Social Innovation can be developed and applied in and for the Amazonia region, a semi-predefined questionnaire has been developed. The research group recruited around ten interviewees from top levels in the communities’ hierarchy.