Solidarity economy

One SSE approach focuses primarily on making the current economic system sustainable. Its objective is the creation of enterprises that serve its members or the community, instead of simply striving for financial profit by prioritising people and work over capital in the distribution of revenue and surplus.[9] United Nations Research Institute for Social Development has concluded that "social and solidarity economy, a science-in-the-making, cannot go very far in framing discourses and in engaging with the bigger picture, as an alternative to the crisesridden “dominant economic paradigm”" and calls for further developing SSE into a new scientific theory with its own foundations which would offer an alternative to the homo economicus.[10]

The RIPESS Charter[11] of the Intercontinental Network for the Promotion of Social Solidarity Economy sets out eleven core values to promote the ethical and value-based economic model:

1. Humanism – putting human beings, their dignity, culture and full development at the centre
2. Democracy – promoting democratic values
3. Solidarity – mobilizing resources and establishing relations with other social collectives
4. Inclusiveness – establishing dialogue based on the respect for ideological differences
5. Subsidiarity – promoting grassroots development to overcome common problems
6. Diversity – encouraging representation of players of all sectors of society
7. Creativity – promoting innovation that contribute to social change
8. Sustainable Development – respecting the balance of the ecosystem by protecting the environment and biodiversity
9. Equality, equity and justice for all - fighting against all forms of discrimination and oppression
10. Respecting the integration of countries and people - opposing economic, political, and cultural domination of the North over the South
11. A plural and solidarity-based economy - providing an alternative to the neoliberal economic model by taking actions towards a plural and solidarity-based economy

Also, sharing some of the above-mentioned points, six principles have been described in the REAS Charter for Solidarity Economy:[12]

1. Principle of equity. Introduces an ethical or justice principle in equality. It is a value that recognizes all people as subjects of equal dignity and protects their right not to be subjected to relationships based on domination regardless of their social condition, gender, age, ethnicity, origin, ability, etc. Society must satisfy, in an equitable manner, the respective interests of all people.
2. Principle of work. Work is a key element in the quality of life of people, community and economic relations between citizens and states. Importance of recovering the human, social, political, economic and cultural dimension of work that allows the development of people's capacities. Work is much more than a job or an occupation.
3. Principle of environmental sustainability. All productive and economic activity is related to nature. The good relationship with nature is a source of economic wealth and health. Therefore, environmental sustainability must be integrated into all activities, evaluating the environmental impact (ecological footprint).
4. Principle of cooperation. Cooperation instead of competition. Model of society based on harmonious local development and fair commercial relationships. Solidarity Economy is based on participatory and democratic ethics, which wants to promote learning and cooperative work between people and organizations.
5. Principle of non-profit-making. The economic model to be pursued is aimed at the integral, collective and individual development of people, and as a means, the efficient management of economically viable, sustainable and profitable projects, whose benefits are reinvested and redistributed. This "non-profit-making" is closely linked to the way of measuring results, which take into account not only the economic aspects, but also the human, social, environmental, cultural and participatory aspects; and the final result is the comprehensive benefit.
6. Principle of territorial responsibility. Participation in the sustainable local and community development of the territory. Organizations fully integrated into the territory and social environment in which they carry out their activities, which requires involvement in networks and cooperation with other organizations of the nearby social and economic fabric, within the same geographical area. This collaboration is a way for concrete positive and solidary experiences to transform the structures that generate inequality, domination and exclusion.

Market relation pressures - As Solidarity Economy enterprises expand, it often becomes more immersed in market relations and global value chains, making it confront new pressures that force large SSE organizations to adopt practices that are characteristic of for-profit enterprise and dilute core SSE principles. An example of such a case could be the growing criticism of microcredit practices.

Informal economy vulnerability – Solidarity Economy interacts with the informal economy of atomized workers and producers a complex web of social relations. The challenge lies in transitioning out of this informality, transforming a wide array of informal social relations with multiple actors into governance and adopting necessary regulations.

Internal dynamics - Solidarity Economy organizations can be prone to elite capture and social exclusion. This might be because of the types of producers that integrate organizations such as cooperatives and/or due to the fact that those with better education and skills end up dominating governance structures.

Balancing multiple objectives – Solidarity Economy enterprises are required to balance a variety of potential objectives related to efficiency and equity, or economic, environmental, social and emancipatory dimensions. This could be made additionally difficult by the organization’s membership homogeneity, misalignment of incentives between managers and members, increased reliance on external support etc.[13]

Social economy businesses (SEB) are situated at the overlap of the social economy and the private sector. This kind of hybrid organisations earn all or some part of their income from the marketplace and they may be in competition with private sector organisations. As many businesses that are primarily viewed as part of a private sector have modified their business imperatives and taken on social business models, it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish between private sector and social economy businesses. The main difference with private sector organisations is that SEB are guided by social objectives that are reflected in their business mission and strategies and built into their structure. In other words, in case of SEB the prerogatives of capital do not dominate over the social objectives in the organization's decision making.[14]

The term social and solidarity economy alludes to a wide scope of organizations that are recognized from ordinary revenue driven venture, business and casual economy by two center highlights. To start with, they have unequivocal monetary and social (and frequently ecological) goals. Second, they include differing types of co-employable, affiliated and solidarity relations.[15] They include the following examples:

• Fair trade organizations form part of the solidarity economy, as their aim is to express practical solidarity with farmers in the developing world by paying them fair prices for their produce.
• Self-help organizations also form part of the solidarity economy as members support each other in dealing with their problems as a practical form of solidarity.
• Co-operatives and especially worker cooperatives form part of the solidarity economy if their aims include a commitment to solidarity in some form.
• Trade unions are often considered a key part of the solidarity economy as they are based on the principle of solidarity between workers.
• Free software movement, open-source development, and other forms of commons-based peer production
• Social center
• Give-away shops and other forms of gift economy
• Global Social Economy Forum
• Local exchange trading systems (LETS) as a way of replacing money.
• Solidarity lending
• Ethical purchasing
• Economy for the Common Good
• Trade School, a Participatory art project co-founded by Caroline Woolard, where participants barter materials, ideas, and services for knowledge.[16]
• Solidarity Economy Networks, such as the U.S. Solidarity Economy Network (USSEN), co-founded by Julie Matthaei (professor of economics with a focus on feminist economics and the political economy of gender, race and class at Wellesley College)

The traditional (capitalistic) economy system is built on hierarchies based on wealth and power. This construct is seen as “masculine” because of the role attribution of the man as a supplier in our society, who is always in competition with other peers. Companies are built on the same principle with a profit-oriented corporate strategy and work hierarchies. Basically, the aim is to enforce and achieve one's own interests and goals, without regard to other market participants or negative consequences or other stakeholders. There is no consideration for the environment and consumers are being manipulated.

The solidarity economy, with its female features such as care and altruism, stands in the way of this. Economists of the solidarity economy are concerned to meet and fulfill the needs and desires of the people. Not only interpersonal relationships but also the relationship between human and nature should be taken into account. Thus, feminism goes hand in hand with solidarity politics and economics.[17]

It is important to stress that, while the economy of solidarity is matching with feministic approaches, it does not support or integrate feminism itself. Indeed a hierarchy within the society is criticized principally, however not gender hierarchization. The solidarity economy does not aim at establishing gender equality within the society, nor is it discussed yet.[18]

• History of the Co-operative Movement
• Mutual aid (organization theory)
• Why we need solidarity economy?
• The Law on the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE), France
• Global Action to promote Social and Solidarity Economy Ecosystems

• RIPESS - Intercontinental Network for the Promotion of Social Solidarity Economy
• Haverford College Solidarity Economy Resources
• "Feminism and Revolution: Looking Back, Looking Ahead"