Social Economy, Third Sector and Solidarity Relations: A Conceptual Synthesis from History to Present

Abstract

Summary. This paper attempts to provide a clear perspective on defining the social economy today. It addresses the question of the relevance of a unifying concept with its need to embrace the existing diversity of approaches and concepts. To this end, it surveys both historical and contemporary academic literature, as well as practice-rooted conceptualisations of the social economy. The first section outlines the analytical challenges to a reconstruction of the social economy concept. The second enhances the historical and space-bound diversity in theorising and institutionalising social economy practices. Section 3 focuses on contemporary reconceptualisations of the social economy in Francophone and Anglo-Saxon literature, while section 4 then suggests improvements to current 'social economy' concepts, by linking them to both the lessons of history and the views of social economy practitioners today.

Citizens and the Crisis: The Great Recession as Constraint and Opportunity

“…In some cases, such reactions have been creative, like in the myriad of local initiatives variably known as social economy (Moulaert and Ailenei 2005), solidarity (or solidary) economy (Laville 2010), or alternative forms of resilience , referring broadly to alternative economic practices initiated by citizen groups and networks. These initiatives include a wide range of actions ranging from solidary bartering, trading schemes, local and alternative currencies, ethical banks, local market cooperatives, cooperatives for the supply of social services such as in health and education, alternative forms of production, critical consumption, and spontaneous actions of resistance and reclaim to the reproduction of cultural knowledge via oral and artistic expression (Kousis and Paschou 2017).…”

Social and Solidarity Economy in a Neoliberal Context: Transformative or Palliative? The Case of an Argentinean Worker Cooperatives

“…Moreover, organisations have social objectives and, although they may engage in some market activity, the economic imperative does not prevail over the social objectives of the organisation. Therefore, what defines SSE is its own rationality, which is distinct from that of the market economy and government sectors; namely social justice, competence and redistribution respectively (Moulaert and Ailenei, 2005). These three different-even opposed-rationalities tell these three sectors apart.…”

“…These three different-even opposed-rationalities tell these three sectors apart. Particularly, SSE rationality draws on forms of exchange that take into account social justice and equality through relationships based on cooperation and association (Moulaert and Ailenei, 2005).…”

The changing faces of social economy across Europe: a perspective from 7 countries

“…Generally speaking, the term social economy designates the universe of practices and forms of mobilising economic resources towards the satisfaction of human needs that belong neither to for-profit enterprises, nor to the institutions of the state in the narrow sense (Moulaert -Ailenei, 2005). Essentially, the social economy is made up of the voluntary, non-profit and co-operative sectors that are formally independent of the state.…”