In whose interests? When relational engagement to obtain a social license leads to paradoxical outcomes

Social license to operate (SLO) is typically associated with seemingly positive outcomes for both communities and organizations. Similarly, relational engagement favored over more instrumental or episodic forms. This paper presents a case study, however, of an organization that undertook ostensibly dialogic processes its stakeholders generate social capital SLO, yet also obtain political power. While the arguably provided substantial benefit local community, paradoxically it wielded significant power community. The findings from suggest evaluation SLO – by extension, normative should move beyond assessing outcomes, critically asking whether not contributes fully functioning society.