Journal of Co-operative Studies, 54(3), 67-72
The concept of the ‘social and solidarity economy’ damages the prospect of genuine self-help enterprises achieving a pivotal role within the economy
| Open access |  | Editorial reviewed/Think piece/Opinion | Published online: December 2021 |
The concept of the ‘social and solidarity economy’ damages the prospect of genuine self-help enterprises achieving a pivotal role within the economy.
Edgar Parnell
Vol 54(3), pp. 67-72
https://doi.org/10.61869/BMPM7413
How to cite this article: Parnell, E. (2021). The concept of the ‘social and solidarity economy’ damages the prospect of genuine self-help enterprises achieving a pivotal role within the economy. Journal of Co-operative Studies, 54(3), 67-72. https://doi.org/10.61869/BMPM7413
Abstract
This article argues, from the standpoint of a practitioner, that the preoccupation of many academics and agencies with the concept referred to as the ‘social and solidarity economy’ has become a distraction from the primacy that ought to be placed on supporting and developing genuine co-operatives and other types of enterprises rooted in the practices of self-help and mutual action. In a world reeling from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is asserted that resources now need to be focused on promoting, re-engineering, and developing enterprises that can help the mass of people respond positively to the challenges now facing them.
PDF
References
Gronlund, L. (1886). The Co-operative Commonwealth in its outlines: An exposition of modern socialism. Swan Sonnenschein, Le Bas & Lowrey (urn:oclc:record:697700056). Internet Archive. https://www.archive.org
Holyoake, G. J. (1918). The history of the Rochdale Pioneers. (10th ed.). George Allen & Unwin (Original work published 1893). (cu31924013720366). https://www.archive.org
International Labour Organisation (ILO). (2009). Plan of action for the promotion of social economy enterprises and organizations in Africa. ILO Regional Conference, 19-21 October, Johannesburg. https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---africa/---ro-abidjan/documents/publication/wcms_166727.pdf
International Labour Organisation (ILO). (2021). Social and solidarity economy. https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/cooperatives/projects/WCMS_546299/lang--en/index.htm
Marx, K. & Engels, F. (1848). Manifesto of the Communist Party. Progress Publishers. https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1848/communist-manifesto/
Parnell, E. (2021, April). Co-ops that work: The power of human systems. http://www.co-oppundit.org/systems.html
Réseau Intercontinental de Promotion de l’Économie Sociale Solidaire (Ripess). (2015). Global vision for a social solidarity economy: Convergences and differences in concepts, definitions, and frameworks. http://www.ripess.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/RIPESS_Vision-Global_EN.pdf
Utting, P. (2015). Introduction: The challenge of scaling up social and solidarity economy. In P. Utting (Ed.), Social and solidarity economy: Beyond the fringe (pp. 1-37). Zed Books. https://doi.org/10.5040/9781350222618.0006
