A Modern Guide to the Social and Solidarity Economy
Will be published approx. on 28. January 2026
Book
Hardback
334 pages
978-1-0353-1089-0 (ISBN)
Description
This Modern Guide presents a comprehensive synthesis of contemporary knowledge on the social and solidarity economy (SSE). It provides an overview of the conceptual, historical, organizational and developmental dimensions of the SSE, exploring current issues through the lenses of public policy, governance, finance and legislation.
Highlighting the SSE's transformative ability to mobilize communities and connect North-South social debates, expert contributors analyse current arguments spanning tensions in hybrid organizations, internationalization, and networks and ecosystems governance. Chapters combine theoretical perspectives with empirical examples, presenting unique insights into researching, developing and participating in the SSE. Expert authors argue that the SSE can foster equitable patterns of resource and surplus distribution, and promote democratic, capable and emancipatory power relations. They examine SSE enterprises including cooperatives, mutual societies, non-profit organizations and community-based initiatives that place social and environmental missions above profit generation, proposing compelling avenues for future research.
This book is a fundamental resource for scholars and students in economics and finance, business and management, and social policy. SSE actors and policymakers, particularly those involved in sustainable development, public services, and local development will also benefit from its valuable discussions.
Highlighting the SSE's transformative ability to mobilize communities and connect North-South social debates, expert contributors analyse current arguments spanning tensions in hybrid organizations, internationalization, and networks and ecosystems governance. Chapters combine theoretical perspectives with empirical examples, presenting unique insights into researching, developing and participating in the SSE. Expert authors argue that the SSE can foster equitable patterns of resource and surplus distribution, and promote democratic, capable and emancipatory power relations. They examine SSE enterprises including cooperatives, mutual societies, non-profit organizations and community-based initiatives that place social and environmental missions above profit generation, proposing compelling avenues for future research.
This book is a fundamental resource for scholars and students in economics and finance, business and management, and social policy. SSE actors and policymakers, particularly those involved in sustainable development, public services, and local development will also benefit from its valuable discussions.
Reviews / Votes
'This book illuminates the social and solidarity economy's distinct role-putting people and communities before profit-while recognizing the universal need for strong governance and management. With clear analysis and suggestions for a multi-disciplinary research agenda, it is a very useful guide for understanding, advancing, and transforming the SSE in our rapidly changing world.' -- Avner Ben-Ner, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, USA 'A Modern Guide to the Social and Solidarity Economy is must-read for people interested in alternative organizational forms and in how capitalism and present-day democracies can be altered to create "equitable patterns of resource and surplus distribution" and "democratic, empowering, and emancipatory power relations." The Guide nicely defines the SSE field and positions it within a historical and policy context, examines key issues like governance and finance, and explores ways the SSE has developed in communities and countries around the world.' -- Murray Fulton, Professor Emeritus, University of Saskatchewan, Canada 'A timely guide, this volume helps bring clarity and insight to the ever-evolving field of social and solidarity economy. A useful read for anyone looking for alternatives to traditional economic models based on equity, cooperation and sustainability.' -- Gianluca Salvatori, EURICSE, ItalyMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Cheltenham
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-0353-1089-0 (9781035310890)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Edited by Marie J. Bouchard, Department of Organization and Human Resources, University of Quebec in Montreal, Canada and Damien Rousseliere, Department of Social Sciences, L'Institut Agro Rennes-Angers, France
Content
Contents
1 Introduction to the social and solidarity economy (SSE) field
of research 1
Marie J. Bouchard, Damien Rousseliere, and Carl Cenerelli
PART I DEFINING THE FIELD OF SSE
2 Social and solidarity economy approaches: a brief conceptual
analysis 22
Marthe Nyssens and Marie J. Bouchard
3 Historical perspectives on the institutionalisation of the social
and solidarity economy 45
Timothee Duverger
PART II DEVELOPING SSE ORGANISATIONS
4 Public policies for the social and solidarity economy 66
Rafael Chaves-Avila, Juan R. Gallego-Bono, Belen Catala
Estada, and Teresa Savall Morera
5 Governing and managing social and solidarity economy
organisations 88
Roger Spear, Madeg Le Guernic, and Chris Cornforth
6 Financing solidarity: building an alternative financial system 114
Amelie Artis
7 The impact of the laws on the social and solidarity economy
on organizational cooperative law 138
Sofia Adam, Ifigeneia Douvitsa, and Hagen Henry
PART III PERSPECTIVES ON THE FIELD OF SSE
8 Internationalization of social and solidarity economy
organizations 161
Anjel Errasti, Ignacio Bretos, and Carmen Marcuello
9 The ecosystems of the social and solidarity economy:
essential for the challenges of our time 188
Marie J. Bouchard, Jean-Marc Fontan, and Benoit Levesque
10 Communal studies and intentional communities: key features
and main contributions to the understanding of the social and
solidarity economy 209
Michel Lallement and Damien Rousseliere
11 Distinctive characteristics of the social and solidarity
economy in Latin America 228
Juan Fernando Alvarez, Valeria Mutuberria Lazarini, and
Carmen Marcuello
12 The social and solidarity economy: the contribution of
emergence and the importance of North-South dialogue 253
Jean-Louis Laville
13 Community economies, transformation pathways and the
social and solidarity economy 274
Katherine Gibson
1 Introduction to the social and solidarity economy (SSE) field
of research 1
Marie J. Bouchard, Damien Rousseliere, and Carl Cenerelli
PART I DEFINING THE FIELD OF SSE
2 Social and solidarity economy approaches: a brief conceptual
analysis 22
Marthe Nyssens and Marie J. Bouchard
3 Historical perspectives on the institutionalisation of the social
and solidarity economy 45
Timothee Duverger
PART II DEVELOPING SSE ORGANISATIONS
4 Public policies for the social and solidarity economy 66
Rafael Chaves-Avila, Juan R. Gallego-Bono, Belen Catala
Estada, and Teresa Savall Morera
5 Governing and managing social and solidarity economy
organisations 88
Roger Spear, Madeg Le Guernic, and Chris Cornforth
6 Financing solidarity: building an alternative financial system 114
Amelie Artis
7 The impact of the laws on the social and solidarity economy
on organizational cooperative law 138
Sofia Adam, Ifigeneia Douvitsa, and Hagen Henry
PART III PERSPECTIVES ON THE FIELD OF SSE
8 Internationalization of social and solidarity economy
organizations 161
Anjel Errasti, Ignacio Bretos, and Carmen Marcuello
9 The ecosystems of the social and solidarity economy:
essential for the challenges of our time 188
Marie J. Bouchard, Jean-Marc Fontan, and Benoit Levesque
10 Communal studies and intentional communities: key features
and main contributions to the understanding of the social and
solidarity economy 209
Michel Lallement and Damien Rousseliere
11 Distinctive characteristics of the social and solidarity
economy in Latin America 228
Juan Fernando Alvarez, Valeria Mutuberria Lazarini, and
Carmen Marcuello
12 The social and solidarity economy: the contribution of
emergence and the importance of North-South dialogue 253
Jean-Louis Laville
13 Community economies, transformation pathways and the
social and solidarity economy 274
Katherine Gibson