The Internationalization of Social Entrepreneurship between Local and Global Markets. The Micro-Stories in the chocolate of Modica

This chapter investigates the contribution of social entrepreneurship (SEship) in enhancing the competitiveness of the territory locally and abroad. In particular, the research examines how the internationalization of for-profit social firms could affect the economic growth of an area and promote or inhibit the opportunity seeking, what are the stages of its development and in which way the initiative of entrepreneurs could turn into systemic changes. From a local perspective, social entrepreneurs act as catalysts for development; from a global point of view, they extend their social mission even in foreign countries and contribute to develop the identity of their country of origin abroad. Starting from the model of the 4 Cs by Tim Morral (2010), we propose a theoretical framework to interpreting the virtuous cycle of economic and social changes triggered by for-profit social enterprises and based on the principles of ethics and social responsability.To explore the factors of SEship that affect the growth of an area, we adopt the case study methodology. Then, we reconstruct the variables and the micro-stories underlying the economic and social value creation in the territory of Modica, a little community in Sicily (Italy), that has a tradition in chocolate business. The results contribute to advance theoretical and empirical understanding on an underexplored topic in the literature on SEship - that is about the way in which for-profit social entrepreneurship connects and negotiates between local and global instances to turn a marginal area into a successful location both economically and socially.