The article is devoted to the analysis of the problems and evaluation of the results of empirical studies of social entrepreneurship (SE) in Russia, starting from the first years of the identification of SE in 2008, until the latest scholarly study of SE of the ZIRCON group in 2021, which stated uncertainty and multivariance of the prospects of social entrepreneurship in Russia. By analyzing the studies conducted in 2008–2021, it is shown how scholarly knowledge about the SE has developed up until today, and what main barriers and contradictions have led to current state of ambiguity in the development of SE in Russia. Conclusions are drawn about the barriers to the formation of social entrepreneurs as a social group associated with the characteristics of social entrepreneurs themselves, their readiness for social change, for leadership in the development of local communities, as well as with the institutional context in which the state plays a significant role.