President of the Chantier de l’économie sociale
Vancouver, June 14-16, 2002
* translated
from French by Anika Mendell
The social and solidarity economy are concepts that
have become increasingly recognised and used in Quebec since 1995. Following
the examples of certain European, as well as Latin American countries, these
terms emerged in Quebec as part of a growing will and desire on the part of
social movements to propose an alternative model of development, in response to
the dominant neo-liberal model. The emergence of this movement has not been
without debate, nor obstacles. In fact, the contours and composition of the
social economy are still being determined; its definition continues to evolve.
However, after the second World Social Forum, which took place in Porto Alegre
in February 2002, where the social and solidarity economy were important
themes, it is now clear that this movement is firmly inscribed in an international
movement for an alternative globalisation.
Since the terms “social economy” or “economy of
solidarity” are not yet widely used in Canada, outside of Quebec, it is
important to establish certain defining elements. The social economy combines
two terms that are often contradictory:
·
“economy” refers to
the concrete production of goods or of services by business or enterprise that
contributes to a net increase in
collective wealth.
·
“social” refers to
social profitability, as opposed to purely economic profit. Social
profitability is evaluated in terms of contribution to democratic development,
of encouragement of an active and empowered citizenship and of projects which promote both individual and collective initiative. Social profitability
contributes to the improvement of the quality of life, and of the well-being of
the population, particularly through the increase of available services. Like
the public sector, as well as the traditional private sector, social
profitability can also be evaluated in terms of job creation.
The
social economy consists of an ensemble of activities and organisations,
emerging from collective enterprises, that pursue common principles and shared
structural elements:
Based on
these principles, we can see that the social economy is not a new concept,
neither in Quebec, in Canada, nor in the rest of the world. In fact, the social
economy has been a part of the socio-economic landscape in Quebec for over a
hundred years. Since the nineteenth century, collective organisations and
enterprise, in different forms and under different designations, have
contributed to the development of a more human economy and society. In fact,
the nineteenth century saw the historical emergence of the workers’ movement,
followed by the birth of the cooperative and mutualist movement. These two
movements assumed different trajectories, coming together in certain countries
and during certain periods in time, and moving apart at other times and places.
Similar to the workers’ movement, the social economy has taken many forms
throughout its history, and adopted different political and ideological colours
over its 150 years of existence.
Today, the social economy in Quebec refers to an
ensemble of cooperatives, mutual benefit societies and associations, which are
linked to the Desjardins credit union movement, as well as other, diverse community
organisations. The social economy refers to all initiatives that are not a part
of the public economy, nor the traditional private sector. In essence, it is
characterized by enterprises and organisations which are autonomous and private
in nature, but where capital and the means of production are collective.
Large and inclusive, the definition of the social
economy which prevails in Quebec today has been, for the most part, constructed
around the so-called “new” social economy that emerged approximately thirty
years ago, in the fields of community economic development, worker and consumer cooperatives, and
community organisations. This new social economy differs from the former or
“old” social economy, consisting of financial cooperatives, mutual benefit
societies and large producer
cooperatives, especially in agriculture. There are many types of
organisations and collective businesses involved in the new social economy, all
of which are rooted in collective entrepreneurship and independent community
action: for example, holiday camps for
families, daycare centres, community media, cooperative housing, women’s
centres, community economic development structures, etc. A portrait of the
social economy in Quebec reflects its importance in the social and economic
development of the province. Even without considering the Desjardins movement, nor the two
largest agricultural cooperatives, the social economy accounts for over 10 000
collective enterprises and community organisations, which employ over 100 000
workers.
The social economy, which is promoted by the Chantier de l’économie sociale, is part
of a double-sided social movement. It is a movement of social transformation,
aiming for the democratisation and development of an economy of solidarity; a
movement which is able to evolve without confusing political goals with ideas
concerning economic development. At
the same time, the social economy is a movement of strategy and of action,
aimed and deployed into the heart of a mixed economy that combines the
activities of the market, the State and civil society. Thus, this dual reality does not manifest itself only in the context of
ideological or political debate; on all levels, theoretical and practical, the
social and solidarity economy explicitly confronts the assumptions and
assertions of a neo-liberal vision of the economy. When we refer to
social or collective entrepreneurship, when we refer to social output and
productivity, and the financial viability of a collective enterprise, when we
insist that regional development prioritise endogenous development instead of a
search for outside investors, we are making significant statements. First and
foremost, that we aim to support local, collective enterprise, while at the
same time attacking certain “inherent truths” and “inevitable realities” of the
neo-liberal economy.
It is difficult to separate the practical field of the
social and solidarity economy movement from its contribution to the more
theoretical debate on a new vision of globalisation. This is because the social and solidarity economy contributes as much to
social innovation, as it contributes to the re-embedding of the notion of
solidarity in economic activities, as it also contributes to a debate on new
models of development.
Reintroducing
the notion of solidarity in economic activity, through local development
Social economy initiatives
generally emerge from the desire to promote a form of local development which
privileges solidarity as an integral part of economic activity. The results of
this approach have been impressive. For the last six years, over one
thousand social economy enterprises have been developed in Quebec. They have
created over
20 000 new and permanent jobs, many of which have been
filled by people who were otherwise excluded from the job market. This is
without mentioning the tens of thousands of jobs, which have been integrated
into the social economy through daycare centres, information technology,
community media, social tourism, leisure activities, proximity services, etc.
Furthermore, the benefits associated with the social economy can also be
evaluated in other ways.
At the heart of the social economy is the empowerment
of citizens, through the development of their milieu; through enterprises that
have not been imposed “from above”. Everywhere, it is citizens, local
organisations, and consultation groups which have decided to act on the
opportunity to establish a daycare centre, a ressourcerie (an
environmental enterprise), a homecare business, a multi-cultural festival, a
prenatal resource centre, etc. In so doing, these communities affirm their will
and their capacity to be effective entrepreneurs, based on an alternative model
of development, itself based on solidarity. These people are not motivated by a
desire for personal profit nor an accumulation of personal wealth, as we are
used to seeing, but rather by the desire to increase the community’s wealth, by
proposing original and relevant collective solutions to community needs.
Another important aspect of the social economy has
been its contribution to social innovation. While technological innovation
generally takes place within a research laboratory, social innovation usually
happens on the ground, led by
practitioners, rather than
scientific “experts”. By trial and error, learning by doing, and exchanging
ideas within groups where a democratic representation of opinion is assured and
obliged, new ways of functioning and innovative responses to problems and needs
are imagined and initiated. In fact, the capacity for innovation within the
social economy is increasingly renowned, even at an international level. All
over the world, people are noticing the use of micro-credit, in order to assist
families in the South who do not have access to traditional systems of credit,
or the existence of collective kitchens in Latin America and tontines in
Africa, or local exchange systems which boast the participation of over two and
a half million people in Argentina; they are also observing the presence of
proximity or community-based services in France, social cooperatives in Italy,
and the new solidarity-based European stock market. All of these initiatives
are proof of the importance of the social and solidarity economy, in the search
for new models of development.
In
Quebec, as elsewhere, community organisations, local development groups and
social economy enterprise all have a heightened awareness of needs (and new
markets), principally because of their solid roots in the community, but also
because of their proximity to social movements (for example, the environmental
movement). In a larger perspective, social and solidarity economy businesses
are able to be innovative due to their preoccupation with sustainable
development. Moreover, local governance institutions provide an important forum
for consultation and discussion, in order to determine a model of economic
development which corresponds with the quality of life of the community or communities
concerned.
The social economy has also furthered the
modernization of collective services, serving as a laboratory of research and
development. In the social sphere, the social economy serves at least two purposes: First, to find solutions to urgent
problems linked to poverty, be it hunger (food banks, soup kitchens, collective
kitchens), social or community housing, violence (shelters, support groups,
etc.), or social exclusion (reintegration enterprises, employment-related
training, literacy groups, etc.) Secondly, to find solutions to new social
demands, as has been the case with many local initiatives that served as models
for the establishment of institutional, parapublic or community-based networks
(for example, community health clinics that became CLSCs, or daycare
centres that became Centres de petite enfance, which are, respectively,
publicly-funded daycare and healthcare institutions). The opposite has also
taken place, as institutions such as the Local Economic Development
Corporations (LEDC)s and the Community Futures Development Corporations
(CFDC)s, have inspired the creation of local development centres, or ressourceries, a concept invented by the
environmental movement.
Towards
a new relationship between economic development and social development: the
role of collective action
Indeed, it is important to remember that the social
economy is not limited to finding immediate, short-term responses to problems.
The social and solidarity economy movement is also firmly embedded within a vision
of a pluralist economy, which challenges traditional economic development on a
larger scale.
Throughout the years, macro-economic strategies have been developed, but always parallel
to, as opposed to combined with social development strategy. In the past, the
State has positioned itself as the mastermind behind both axes, social and
economic, but with two entirely separate frameworks. This has resulted in a
series of isolated measures and programmes, focused on the same communities and
population. Too often, this strategy has proven inefficient, as it implies
solutions which are mechanical and unrelated, applied to different aspects of
the same reality without any holistic vision. There is often the sense that
economic growth will, itself, inevitably solve everything, and that the State
can subsequently resolve the social problems of a community, by allowing it a
greater share of the fiscal pie. However, the last twenty years have
conclusively demonstrated that this strategy has been, without any doubt,
ineffective.
Clearly, there is a need for growth, but not at any
price. Obviously, it is important to have a system of social protection, but it
is essential to resolve problems at their roots, and not to have system which
simply compensates its victims. To do so, there is a need to act in a way which
integrates both economic and social elements. There is also the need to be able
to depend on the State; certainly, a transformed State, but one which has been
strengthened, able to govern and act as a partner with civil society
initiatives. Finally, we must develop an economy “with a market”, rather than
perpetuate a “market economy”.
The development of the social and solidarity economy
is firmly enshrined within this philosophy, and promotes the advantages of a
pluralist economy. Instead of encouraging an economic approach where all must
either be private or public, we must value and acknowledge the importance of a
social economy, run by civil society, that defends the collective interest. The
market and the state, these two polarized forces, cannot be the only elements
that control economic and social development. A pluralist economy is inclusive
of civil society, as it depends on its participation in building a model of
social and economic development, where the economy works towards the social
benefit of the local, and the greater community.
In the context of the modernization and transformation
of the role of the State, the participation of civil society in the social
economy encourages and extends the idea of a collective body being responsible
for essential elements of development, and for the protection of collective
well-being and interest.
It is important to note that the social economy
proposes a definition of collective interest which does not confine it to
public sector activities. Furthermore, its approach provides an alternative to
private enterprise. Thus, sectors of activity can be developed without being
subject to their “commodification”; and while the State may assume
responsibility for regulation and redistribution, there is no State involvement
in the actual dispensation of services. As such, the social economy and the
public sector are not forced to compete with each other. Firmly structured,
they are complementary to each other, providing the mutual support which,
ultimately, leads to a genuine and effective realisation of collective
interest.
In certain fields, where the response to social need
is more lucrative, the social economy is progressively establishing a market
presence. There are numerous examples of this reality in Quebec: first, the
experience of forestry cooperatives, which have made a commitment to local
development that far exceeds the contribution of multinationals. There is also
the example of environmental enterprises (les ressourceries), where the need for waste management has
proven that financial and ecological profitability can co-exist. Finally,
funeral cooperatives offer an alternative to the standardised American model
for this ritual. In summary, without pretending that social economy enterprise
can or will fundamentally transform all aspects of traditional, private
enterprise, it is important to recognise that the social economy, when it
occupies a significant market space, can influence models of development. In
fact, it is not surprising that the presence of collective enterprise in
certain sectors or areas of the world, actually pushes traditional private
enterprises to remake their image (and, in certain cases, their ways of
operating as well), to resemble social enterprise.
Finally, the most strategic element of the social
economy is perhaps its response to a fundamental need: the ability to respond
to collective need by securing collective ownership of our resources, in a
context of market globalisation.
The
social and solidarity economy: An integral part of the movement for an
alternative globalisation
The
presence and participation of social
economy actors from Quebec in anti-globalisation
movements is not new. Extremely active in this area, the Chantier de l’économie sociale organised
a panel on this issue for the World Social Forum in Porto Allegre; however, it
must be pointed out that this international experience was not a first. On the
contrary, often in collaboration with other Québécois partners, such as unions,
researchers and international development and cooperation organisations, the Chantier de l’économie sociale has been
active in numerous international exchanges and networks. We have participated
in many European events, as well as at the People’s Summit in Quebec City,
etc., and are constantly weaving new bilateral links with numerous
organisations and countries.
Despite
its relatively recent visibility, the social and solidarity economy is often an
important item on the agenda at these
encounters. This is not surprising,
because the social network within which the social economy exists was created
by larger, national social movements. The beginnings of the Chantier de l’économie sociale is a
prime example of this reality.
The Chantier
de l’économie sociale emerged in a particular context. In 1996, the Quebec
government organized a Summit on the Economy and Employment, where participants
included civil society representatives: along with leaders from big business,
employers’ associations and the unions and institutional networks,
representatives of important social and community movements participated in
this summit. In its
effort to find a way out of a 12% unemployment rate as well as significant
difficulties with public financing, the government challenged Quebec civil
society to come up with strategies that would allow for economic renewal and
job creation, while taking into consideration the limitations of State
intervention. To do so, it proposed the creation of a working-group on employment issues, led by actors from civil
society. The Chantier de l’économie
sociale was created from this large group. It had six months to fulfil its
mandate: to prepare a plan of action able to mobilize the social economy
network, and to propose job creation strategies that would be acceptable to the
participants of this summit and which, of course, complied with the guidelines
set by the government.
For many
reasons, this proved to be an immense challenge. First, in Quebec as in the
rest of the world, the idea of an economy based on communitarian values was and
is far from the dominant view. Secondly, despite its important presence in
Quebec, the term “social economy” had never been widely used; thus, it was
complicated to identify and recognize. Thirdly, because this process took place
within limits “imposed” by the State, many social economy participants,
extremely attached to their autonomy, regarded the entire process with great
suspicion.
Despite
these obstacles, this challenge was successfully met by the Quebec actors and
participants of the social economy. Obviously, a great deal of effort was spent
to convince the diverse networks within the social economy – the network of
cooperatives, community groups, local
development workers, business associations
and sector-based organisations – of
the necessity to work together despite so much diversity, with a common goal:
to achieve visible gains that corresponded with shared objectives, but
particularly to demonstrate the potential of collective enterprise or
organisations. This involved establishing a clear definition of the social
economy, making its past achievements more visible, and proposing a series of
sector-by-sector strategies that would allow for the emergence of new economic
activity, able to respond to social, economic, and environmental need. It was
also necessary to identify the conditions under which the social economy could
emerge and flourish. The conditions established ranged from a formal
recognition of the role of the social economy within the socio-economic
landscape in Quebec, to the integration of local and regional development
policies that would ensure support for collective enterprise, to equal access
to the development incentives offered to traditional enterprise, to changes in
legislation on cooperatives, which would allow for the creation of solidarity
cooperatives, to the establishment of new training and funding tools.
This plan
of action, submitted during the Summit on the Economy and Employment in October
1996, received the support of its participants. During the last six years, not
only have the majority of the elements discussed in this plan been
accomplished, thanks to local actors involved in many sectors of activity, but
new projects and initiatives have also been developed and implemented. It is
essential to point out that, for the duration of this challenge, the
participants of the Chantier de
l’économie sociale could count on an environment which valued consultation
and representation, as well as on the collaboration of the Quebec government
(however imperfect, at times), which did make commitments during the Summit of
1996.
The
success of this large partnership, which was the Chantier of 1996, motivated its members to transform it from a
temporary structure (in existence for the duration of the Summit, with two and
a half year of follow-up), to a permanent one. Thus, in April 1999, the Chantier de l’économie sociale held its
first general assembly, and elected a board of directors. This board consists
of 28 people elected by different electoral colleges, in order to
represent the diverse realities of the social economy: particularly, the
emerging projects and those already in place. In terms of representation, the
board of directors of the Chantier de
l’économie sociale includes
representatives of cooperative and non-profit enterprise, of social economy
development groups – in particular local and regional development networks, as
well as support networks for collective enterprise – and representatives of the
large social movements which share the values and vision of the social economy.
The social movements involved are the community movement, the women’s movement,
the labour movement, the environmental movement, the cooperative movement, and
the cultural, leisure, and local development movements.
The Chantier has the following mission: to
promote the social economy, to support the consolidation, experimentation and
elaboration of new projects and fields, to encourage consultation between the
diverse participants of the social economy, and to ensure that these actors be
represented within the public domain. For the most part, the Chantier depends on existing networks
and resources. With limited resources, it attempts to build new networks and
partnerships that are based on common ideas and strategies. For example, the Chantier was behind the creation of a
new financial instrument, called the Réseau d’investissement social du Québec
(RISQ). This institution, which has ten
million dollars available for social economy initiatives, is the result of
contributions from the private sector, and well as from the government of
Quebec. The RISQ is jointly administered by its subscribers as well as by social economy actors. The Chantier also co-directs an
inter-university research partnership, called the Alliance de recherche universités-communautés en économie sociale.
As well, the Chantier founded the Comité sectoriel de main-d’oeuvre de
l’économie sociale et de l’action communautaire which, in partnership with
public employment institutions and the actors in the social economy, works hard
to improve the management skills of workers in diverse sectors of activity.
As such,
it is clear that action is an essential part of the social economy movement in
Quebec, without ignoring the essential debates involved in the construction of
a movement for an alternative globalisation.
The social economy and the economy of
solidarity: A planet-wide project
Around
the world, the social economy movement is becoming more and more dynamic, and
increasingly recognized. In Europe, the presence of the social economy is
significant, particularly in France, Belgium, Spain and Sweden. This network
has created strong links with movements such as ATTAC. Social economy networks
are also emerging in East European countries, part of the reconstruction of
civil society. At the initiative of the European Union, a new conference on the
social economy (the fifth in two years) will take place in Prague, in October
2002. The development of the social and solidarity economy has now become an
important issue in the construction of the European Union.
In Latin
America, the social and solidarity economy has taken diverse forms. For
example, in Brazil, the Centrale Unie des Travailleurs (CUT) has put into place
an Agence de Développement Solidaire,
which participates directly in the creation of worker cooperatives, and of
financial cooperatives for marginalized populations of Brazil. During the World
Social Forum, the Chantier de l’économie
sociale and the Centrale des syndicates nationaux (CSN) established a
formal collaboration with the CUT and the Agence de Développement Solidaire.
In
Africa, where in certain countries up to 80% of economic activity is derived
from the formal economy, and where the State is often not in a position to
defend collective interest in development issues, the social and solidarity
economy seems more and more to be the only progressive development strategy.
In this
context, the Chantier de l’économie
sociale is actively working towards building a global network of
initiatives within the social economy. In October 2001, the Chantier was an active partner in the
organisation of the “Second Meeting on the Globalisation of Solidarity: The
social and solidarity economy, a North-South perspective”, which took place in
Quebec. This event followed the first meeting, which took place in 1997, in
Lima, Peru. The objectives of this process are clearly explained in the
following excerpt from the pre-conference document, which was produced for the
Quebec meetings:
Without any doubt, there are initiatives in
existence that reintroduce the idea of solidarity in economic activity.
However, these initiatives remain modest, in a market economy where a
neo-liberal perspective is dominant. The challenge is to create the foundation
for an economic system which values solidarity, by multiplying the areas,
spaces and scale of intervention – local and regional, and at a federal,
national and international level – to go beyond the micro economic level, which
characterises the existing social economy initiatives.
The success of the economy of solidarity
depends on the concerted push
that it receives from social movements (community action, women’s groups,
labour, youth) as well as from social economy enterprise; afterwards, its
success also depends on the place it is allocated within a greater social
project. Success also depends on our capacity to evolve, internationally. We
have already begun this process, but in a way that remains scattered. To
continue in Quebec, what was started in
Lima, we must:
·
take advantage of our strategic position to
encourage a convergence of the different components of the economy of
solidarity, from here as from elsewhere, in a way which strengthens this model,
at an economic, political and practical level; as a model of socio-economic
development, and as a socio-political issue;
·
firmly put into practice solidarity between
communities in the North and the South
·
overcome
the challenge of coordinating on an international level, without
solidarity losing its global impact.
The event
in Quebec was significant, in terms of building a global network for the social
and solidarity economy. More than 300 people from 37 countries participated.
During these meetings, a decision was made to create an international liaison
commission. This commission will be comprised of six representatives per
continent, whose mandate will be:
·
To
assure the circulation of debate, of expertise, of know-how concerning social
economy enterprise;
·
To
assure a connection between this expertise and the networks that they cover;
·
To
assure that social economy enterprise and networks are incorporated into
greater networks;
·
To
assure an inventory and follow-up of networks, and support to national networks
·
To
assure a contribution to the ideological struggle for a social and solidarity
economy, in particular by being present and representing the social economy
during international forums;
·
And,
in the spirit of the encounters in Lima and in Quebec, to assure the
preparation of a Third International Meeting on the Globalisation of
Solidarity, which will take place in Dakar, in 2005.
Assessment and perspectives for the future
While the
movement for a social and solidarity economy is, in its new form, still quite
recent, the actors of this movement are extremely optimistic and determined for
the future. The reasons are simple. The last decades, characterised by the
triumph of neo-liberalism, have left a series of events in their wake: The
Enron scandal, the crises in Argentina, statistics which clearly show a growing
disparity between rich and poor countries, as well as between the rich and the
poor within the same country, etc. At the same time, the initiatives that have
been put into place by the actors of the social and solidarity economy are more
numerous, and are more and more visible. Thanks to information and
communications technology, as well as international meetings such as Porto
Alegre, international networks are being built and strengthened, due to the
capacity of actors within their own country.
In
summary, what kind of an assessment can be made of the contribution of this
movement to the development of citizenship, to the renewal of democracy and to
the construction of an alternative globalisation?
An
evaluation must be made at different levels, as the initiatives of the social
and solidarity economy play many roles
in the movement for an alternative globalisation. In a very concrete way, they
have allowed women and men, as well as entire communities, to develop and
respond to their own needs, while integrating the values of solidarity and
social justice, as they see them, into their actions. The services which are
created, the new jobs, the new organisational structures and the networks
established already offer solutions to basic needs, expressed by individuals,
groups, and communities. In light of the dominance of neo-liberalism, each and all of these represent great
achievements.
However,
the achievements of the social economy go beyond an immediate response to
needs. They allow the participants of this movement to create a different kind
of economy; and to do so as a community. They also help destroy the fatalism
that neo-liberalism perpetuates in its claim to be the only model of
development. The way in which the social and solidarity economy work, allows
for actions which confront, head-on, strategies based solely on the financial
aspects of the economy, while allowing individuals and movements to be
confident about their ability as collective entrepreneurs. As such, the gains
of the social economy inspire groups and movements to conceptualise larger and
more complete strategies that aim to develop a world economy, that is both
global, and is based upon solidarity.
It is in
this way that the social and solidarity economy has added an essential element
to the political movement for an alternative globalisation. For this goal
cannot remain solely a political idea. It must be based on a vision which is
political, social, economic and cultural; it must respect diverse realities
while, at the same time, sharing a common foundation, which, in our case, is
solidarity. Just as civil society demands political recognition, and the right
to participate in discussions concerning commercial trade and trade agreements,
the actors of the social economy have begun to demand increasing economic
recognition, meaning a more significant space in the economic sphere, on a
local, national and, soon, international level.
Within
this movement, people are conscious of the obvious challenges that await them.
Even in the countries which are considered the most “progressive”, the
possibility of building a pluralist economy, based on social justice and
sustainable development, is still considered by the majority to be an
impossible dream, a project which is dated and out of fashion.
Thus,
there are enormous challenges ahead, but, already, certain future paths have
been identified:
The first
path is to assure the recognition of the existence of social and solidarity
economy initiatives. Because the strength of this movement, which consists of a
multitude of diverse, locally-based initiatives is also its weakness, due to
the minute recognition that these projects actually receive. For example, the
network of Centres de petites enfances,
with their 22 000 employees, represents one of the largest non-governmental
employers in Quebec. And yet, who recognizes them as such? The social and
solidarity economy is not made up of multinationals, whose presence dominates
the media, sharing this space with large, political lobbies. These enterprises
are not quoted on the stock market, and are therefore absent from the business
pages of newspapers. Nor do these enterprises promise huge output for
profit-obsessed shareholders, who seek a maximization of personal gain. The
social economy’s struggle for recognition must take a different path; through
its visibility within communities, through the construction of national and
international networks, which could let communities know about actions and
options, and through an open and large debate on the importance of the social
and solidarity economy, within a pluralist economy.
The
second area to pursue is the need to respond to the challenges of development,
in a way which is more effective and better structured, allowing this
movement to strengthen the capacity of communities to adopt an economic vision
which privileges solidarity. As with all economic development, the actors of
the social and solidarity economy need access to capital, training, markets,
and tools of research and development. The strategies to reach these objectives
are diverse, and differ from country to country. It is also understood that,
during the next few years, it will be necessary to accelerate our speed. The
social and solidarity economy cannot accept to remain marginal, with
exclusively small-scale initiatives that are not necessarily connected to one
another. It is essential that these movements not be afraid to expand their
aims, to use greater means, and to have access to more capital, all the while
remaining in solidarity. Neither should the social and solidarity economy
accept an economic space which is not wanted by others; this movement will
learn to confront the private sector on its own terrain, and to convince
governments and populations that it is the best choice.
Gaining
recognition and access to developmental tools will not happen easily. To
succeed, it is increasingly understood that national networks must be
strengthened, and more particularly, that new, international networks must be
created. These networks should not be limited to the actors within the social
and solidarity economy. One of the most urgent challenges is to establish a
better understanding of the importance of the social and solidarity economy,
among the many and diverse movements for an alternative globalisation. The
social and solidarity economy must rely more on the social movements which have
adopted the values of solidarity and equity in their struggles. To do so, it is
necessary to clearly identify how actions can be complementary to each other,
and how strategies can be more complicit with each other. In this sense, the
presence of the social and solidarity economy at the World Social Forum
represents an important step towards this goal.
Of
course, there still remains an enormous amount of work, in order to further our
reflection on fundamental issues, such as the role of the nation-state, the
market, the North-South relationship, the relationship between men and women,
and the respect for diversity. More and more, these questions are on the
agendas of meetings, conferences, research and debate. This is a sign of a
healthy and blossoming movement, in full expansion.