Ecosocial Innovations as Part of Social and Solidarity Economy: Local Models for a Sustainable Development

Abstract

Abstract:The paper first introduces the concept of ecosocial innovations. These are local organizations embedded in social and solidarity economy, which combine ecological and social challenges in their work. They are successful models of how to operationalize sustainability. Based on a cross-national, multi-case study with a social work background, the paper aims at providing insights about the work and significance of ecosocial innovations. Drawn from interview material collected in four countries within selected ecosocial innovations, seven themes as common characteristics of these local actors are presented. One trait of ecosocial innovations is a creative mix of paid work, voluntary engagement, and subsidized employment in their activities. This mix is not only a compromise due to a lack of resources, but it also acknowledges the interconnectedness of well-being and sustainable social practices. The paper concludes with a summary of the main results and an outlook of the potential of ecosocial innovations for the future. They could for example serve as models for an ecological social work Keys-Words: Ecosocial innovations, social and solidarity economy, sustainability, social work Resumo: Este artigo apresenta o conceito de inovações eco-sociais. Conceito que remete para as organizações locais ligadas à economia social e solidária cuja intervenção não deixa de atender aos desafios sociais e ecológicos, podendo ser vistos como modelos de sucesso na operacionalização da sustentabilidade. Baseado num estudo comparativo multi-caso internacional, a partir de uma abordagem do Serviço Social, o artigo procura mostrar o trabalho desenvolvido nestas iniciativas, salientando a importância das mesmas. Entrevistas recolhidas junto dos atores locais em quatro países permitiram identificar sete características comuns às diferentes experiências estudadas. Destaca-se a identificação de um padrão comum no funcionamento destas inovações eco-sociais: uma criativa fusão de trabalho assalariado, voluntariado e emprego subvencionado. Esta combinação não é resultado, apenas, de compromissos motivados pela falta recursos, mas, também, da adoção de práticas sociais sustentáveis e de bem-estar. O artigo termina com um resumo das principais conclusões e um sobrevoar do potencial que as inovações eco-sociais apresentam para o futuro, podendo, por exemplo, fornecer modelos para um serviço social ecológico. Palavras-Chave: Inovações eco-sociais, economia social e solidária, sustentabilidade, serviço social

Storytelling for sustainable development in rural communities: An alternative approach

“…Similarly, contemporary regional development and innovation models privilege knowledge-based urban clusters over primary production and the rural communities where it occurs. For example, the "eco-social innovation" approach described by Stamm, Hirvilammi, Matthies, and Närhi (2019) and others combines environmental sustainability with entrepreneurial techniques, but tends to focus on urban contexts. Technological innovation has been central to the evolution of primary industries (e.g., forestry, agriculture), with resource-based communities continually adapting to stay competitive, and primary industry workers facing the constant risk of layoffs due to automation.…”

Ecosocial Innovations and Their Capacity to Integrate Ecological, Economic and Social Sustainability Transition

“…The initial mapping process of the field in our research project aimed to give an overview of what kind of ESIs exist in Finland, Germany, Belgium, Italy and the UK. This was done in order to be able to choose the most relevant examples for our later case studies (see Stamm et al [35]). For this purpose, we defined 'an ideal type of ESI' as a tool for our empirical research on behalf of the following three criteria [36].…”

Combining labour market and unemployment policies with environmental sustainability? A cross-national study on ecosocial innovations

“…Only rather slowly, and yet far from mainstream discussions, this situation is changing in social policy or social work research, which this study is based on (eg. Cook, Smith, & Utting, 2012;Fitzpatrick, 2011Fitzpatrick, , 2014aFitzpatrick, , 2014bGough et al, 2008;Gough, 2013Gough, , 2017Matthies & Närhi, 2017;Wallimann, 2013). This is the gateway for the main research question of this article: How are labour market and unemployment policies connected to ecosocial innovations in various countries and what lessons for developing new ecosocial policies can be learned from this connection?…”

“…In this article, we use empirical data based on a cross-national case study on community basedorganizations we label ecosocial innovations (ESI) in four European countries -Finland, Germany, Belgium and Italy (cf. Matthies et al, 2019;Stamm et al, 2017). We define ESIs as small-scale associations, cooperatives, projects or organizations that create new integrative practices combining both social and environmental goals in the field of social and solidarity economy (SSE) (see eg.…”

“…Our empirical data of the cross-national multi-case study is based on an initial mapping phase conducted in five European countries, including the UK, leading to 50 ESIs as examples which best fulfilled the criteria of a local, innovative organization with a social and ecological agenda. 1 In the end, six 1 For further details on the search criteria, the methods used for conducting the case studies and detailed descriptions of the ecosocial innovations and their social practices, see Stamm et al (2017).…”