The Process of Social Innovation

Every truth passes through three stages.First, it is ridiculed.Second, it is violently opposed.Third, it is accepted as being self-evident. -Arthur SchopenhauerMuch of what we now take for granted in social life began as radical innovation.A century ago, few believed that ordinary people could be trusted to drive cars at high speed, the idea of a national health service freely available was seen as absurdly utopian, the concept of "kindergarten" was still considered revolutionary, and only one country had given women the vote.Yet in the interim, these and many other social innovations have progressed from the margins to the mainstream.During some periods in recent history, civil society provided most of the…