The Social and Solidarity Economy: Alternatives in the Making
by Eunices Pineda, ICSW
The concept of the social and solidarity economy (SSE) has roots in various movements and initiatives across different countries and regions. It emerged as a response to the limitations of traditional economic models and the need for alternative approaches that prioritize social and environmental objectives. It is challenging to attribute the introduction of SSE to a single individual; rather, it has been shaped by a broad range of actors, including grassroots organizations, researchers, policymakers, and social movements. The contributions of these individuals and collective efforts have helped introduce and advance the understanding and recognition of the social and solidarity economy as an alternative economic model focused on social and environmental objectives alongside economic sustainability. Increasingly used as an umbrella concept, SSE refers to the production and exchange of goods and services by a broad range of organizations and enterprises that are guided by the principles and practices of cooperation, solidarity, ethics and democratic self-management, and can take the form of cooperatives, social enterprises, self-help groups or community associations, among others.
