Social enterprises are increasingly regarded as successful mechanisms for
reconciling equity and efficiency with the crea¬tion of economic and social value, and they
can be interpreted as concrete expressions of a growing sense of social responsibility on the
part of citizens.Research conducted in various geographical contexts corroborates that social
enterprises are a structural trend, which cuts across countries with diverse characteristics.
Following a historical contextualization of the social enterprise, the article focuses on a
conceptual analysis. Next, attention is paid to the diffusion of social enterprises in the enlarged
Europe, including countries where social enterprises have been acknowledged; countries
where social enterprises are increasingly regarded as a unique way whereby unmet needs can
be addressed; and countries where social enterprise-like initiatives happen to emerge despite
the predominance of unfavourable conditions. Finally, attention is paid to social enterprises
in Italy and specifically to the key factors explaining their success