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The Circular Economy (CE) is frequently touted as important for building sustainability. Despite growing interest in CE, few theories have provided effective on-the-ground tools for building circularity. This case study of an agricultural organization in Western Canada illustrates how the logic of complexity helps frame and sustain a CE. Interviewees embraced complexity to manage the messy, unpredictable work of CE. Although preliminary, this suggests the possibility that circular economy-like behaviour may be more complex than currently understood. Interviewees represented complex systems thinkers in the wild and could help others seeking to build their own CE initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social purpose organizations, whether from the community sector or the social economy, are faced with a growing number of funders demanding the adoption of private-sector productivity standards. These organizations must present reports analyzing their social impacts. At the same time, they are faced with an economic and social environment marked by crises. Issues such as climate change, wealth inequality, and systemic racism are becoming increasingly important in their communities. They are sensitive to these issues and want to understand and tackle them. However, the tools for analyzing systemic crises are different from impact assessment models. Given the importance of these two perspectives, the author imagines an analytical framework combining social efficiency modeling and macrosocial modeling. To do so, he mobilizes the principle of social effect recently developed by Philippe Dufort, which he implements within a logical model of social impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the concept of "governance," power in contemporary societies is shared between a multiplicity of players from the public, private and associative sectors. While the state and large private companies holding logging permits have held a central position in the development of Québec's public forests for the past two centuries, a governance perspective allows us to see the contribution of other, more peripheral players, notably those from the social economy. In recent decades, research has highlighted the role of forestry cooperatives, controlled harvesting zones, forestry groups and community forests, and shed light on the conditions under which they have become established in the forestry regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the social economy can achieve many positive outcomes, one recent benefit is that it can be a route to Indigenous food sovereignty--a restorative framework for feeding communities and engaging in decolonization. This article examines how some Indigenous groups in Canada use the social economy to build food sovereignty, beginning with an overview of cultural relationships with food, its place in an Indigenous worldview, and the effect of colonization on Indigenous foodways. After introducing food sovereignty, and in particular Indigenous food sovereignty, it focuses on how some Indigenous communities are using the social economy to build food sovereignty, using the example of the Northern Manitoba Food, Culture, and Community Collaborative. The article concludes with a discussion of the importance of community and food sovereignty, not only for Indigenous Peoples but also for the social economy itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Recherches Sociographiques is the property of Recherches Sociographiques and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Recherches Sociographiques is the property of Recherches Sociographiques and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Social impact accounting is a significant issue for social economy organizations (SEOs), such as associations, foundations, social enterprises, social cooperatives, and other nonprofit organizations that aim to be transparent and accountable. The academic accounting literature addresses theoretical and empirical contributions on the methods and tools of measurement, assessment, and reporting of social impact. However, there are few contributions on the emerging topic of the digitalization of the social impact accounting process. Preliminary research analyses consider digital tools such as distributed ledgers including blockchain, big data, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things as innovations that allow SEOs to be more accountable and transparent with their social impacts and value created. The increased attention to these technologies opens the way for new and multidisciplinary research questions on this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explains the process of theoretical, methodological, and empirical construction of the concept of 'solidarity territories' as a kind of brand that identifies a series of experiences that promote local development where actors of diverse origin have been participating, in parallel, from the university, from the territories, and from the national government in Colombia. We identify the contexts, developments, and prospects that will eventually converge to the extent that they share a common purpose: contributing to sustainable development based on integrating solidarity in the territories. Our study adopts a qualitative approach and uses the multi-case study method. The method facilitated the development of concepts based on the description, analysis, and establishment of relations between the experiences considered to enable knowledge-building regarding a topic that is still in the process of development. Solidarity territories are an example of socio-territorial innovation that supports social and environmental justice, as long as they contribute to the development of capacities for collective action at the local level from the perspective of good living. Being able to compare the experiences based on a document review and the approaches of the three researchers who were participant observers of the different research phases, a task that characterizes the process, turns out to be novel. The study is expected to serve as a reference point to continue contributing to the promotion of the solidarity culture and solidarity entrepreneurship, strengthening of public institutions, and citizen participation required to develop an ecosystem that enhances the associative solidarity model and its contributions to innovation and social transformation in the territories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite transformational aims, many social economy organizations (SEOs) adopt rather mainstream organizational structures. Typically, they are managed by a general manager, who is him/herself supervised by a board of directors. However, we observe an emerging, alternative organizing mode: that of co-leadership. In such cases, the general manager function and its associated responsibilities are shared between two (or more) people in various configurations. How do such models emerge? How do co-leaders organize themselves concretely? What are the pros and cons of co-leading? Through a qualitative exploratory study of eight SEOs in which co-leading was experimented, our research proposes answers to these questions, which were initially asked by practitioners. This approach then allows us to contribute to the literature on co-leading by presenting some particularities of SEOs, and further, to reflect on the potential for social transformation of an organizational social innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both social economy and circular economy have received much attention recently. Yet, the relationship between the two remains under explored. While social economy primarily refers to economic democratization, collective enterprise, and the quest for common good, circular economy tends to focus on environmental sustainability. This article examines the overlap between the two. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Interventions Économiques is the property of Association d'Economie Politique and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Management international / International Management / Gestiòn Internacional is the property of Management International and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Management international / International Management / Gestiòn Internacional is the property of Management International and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Interventions Économiques is the property of Association d'Economie Politique and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article deals with the production and management of collective goods and services by social economy organizations in Mali. Specifically, the article analyzes how a village association--a cooperative community organization--becomes involved in local socioeconomic development by pooling means and resources to produce self-managed collective goods and services for the benefit of its members, but also of non-members who have to pay more. This mode of organization allows rice producers to secure their living conditions in one of the largest hydro-agricultural enterprises in West Africa, as well as to participate in the development of their community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Review of Social Policy / Revue Canadienne de Politique Sociale is the property of York University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Cet article revient sur les origines de l’OCCE (Office central de la coopération à l’école) créée par le mouvement des coopérateurs dans l’entre-deux-guerres dans le but de faire des écoliers français de futurs coopérateurs. Le projet, porté initialement par des cadres de l’Instruction publique, des universitaires et des militants de la coopération, croise les dynamiques locales initiées par les militants des pédagogies « nouvelles ». Au-delà des querelles idéologiques et des aléas économiques, il en résulte la création d’une structure pédagogique qui n’a cessé de croître tout au long du XXe siècle, tout en restant en permanence tiraillée entre son souci d’efficacité financière (assurer des revenus complémentaires aux écoles) et ses objectifs militants (initier les enfants à la vie coopérative et aux valeurs de l’économie sociale).

This article outlines six areas of research that would help Canada’s social purpose sector recover and move forward from the COVID-19 pandemic. First, the sector needs big picture thinking about its role in a post-pandemic world. Second, it needs research on the needs currently being met—or left unmet—by social purpose organizations. Third, it needs research that helps social purpose organizations measure and communicate their value and impact. Fourth, researchers could examine the sector’s advocacy efforts during the pandemic and the results of these efforts. Fifth, there is a need for research on the larger ecosystem in which social purpose organizations operate. Finally, the pandemic presents an opportunity to study how different organizations responded to a crisis and to learn from their experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Criterio Libre is the property of Revista Criterio Libre and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

La notion de justice sociale peut être abordée à l’échelon européen et mise en relation avec certains champs d’étude comme l’économie, la citoyenneté ou encore le développement durable. Cet article propose une réflexion de la notion de justice sociale en regard de ces différents champs qui intègrent les politiques publiques menées par l’Union européenne. Il cherche notamment à répondre à la question: comment la justice sociale peut permettre d’améliorer, de penser d’une manière alternative ou d’enrichir l’économie, la citoyenneté et le développement durable?

This keynote address explores the interplay between three forces that will shape the next few years of social economy practice and research. The first is variety, both with respect to existing and emergent social need, and with respect to the multiplicity of organizational forms adopted by social economy actors. The second concerns the forms of knowledge, ranging from instrumental knowledge to reflection and critique, which inform practices in the sector. Knowledge production is itself both enabled and constrained by the third force, professionalism, or the ways we structure the socialization and employment of those working in the sector. With variation an inherent characteristic of the social economy and with the ongoing search for appropriate models of professionalism, our collective knowledge production tasks remain unfinished. Ce discours principal explore les interactions entre trois forces qui vont façonner la pratique et la recherche en économie sociale au cours des prochaines années. La première est la variété, tant par rapport aux besoins sociaux actuels et naissants qu’à la multiplicité de formes organisationnelles adoptées par les acteurs de l’économie sociale. La seconde concerne les types de savoir informant les pratiques dans le secteur, du savoir instrumental jusqu’à la réflexion et la critique. La troisième force, le professionnalisme ou la manière dont on organise le recrutement et la socialisation de ceux et celles qui oeuvrent dans le secteur, permet la production du savoir tout en y imposant certaines contraintes. La variation étant une caractéristique intrinsèque de l’économie sociale, et la quête de modèles de professionnalisme appropriés se perpétuant, il est clair que nos tâches collectives de production du savoir demeurent inachevées.

This keynote address explores the interplay between three forces that will shape the next few years of social economy practice and research. The first is variety, both with respect to existing and emergent social need, and with respect to the multiplicity of organizational forms adopted by social economy actors. The second concerns the forms of knowledge, ranging from instrumental knowledge to reflection and critique, which inform practices in the sector. Knowledge production is itself both enabled and constrained by the third force, professionalism, or the ways we structure the socialization and employment of those working in the sector. With variation an inherent characteristic of the social economy and with the ongoing search for appropriate models of professionalism, our collective knowledge production tasks remain unfinished. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This brief article explores two key questions that have emerged for the social economy in the COVID-19 context: 1) the nature of the relationship between social economy actors and the State, and 2) the possibility for social transformation going forward. This article engages with a dialogue entitled "Autonomous Community Action and Its Transformational Potential at a Territorial Level: An Ongoing Dialogue Between Research and Practice.". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

L’histoire sociale a longtemps privilégié le conflit à la réforme et à la gestion du social. Ces dernières semblaient un objet d’étude négligeable il y a encore quatre décennies. L’histoire était essentiellement pensée en termes d’affrontements et de luttes mais, inversement, négociations et compromis n’y avaient pas de place. La majorité des historiens qui se consacraient au politique étaient attirés bien davantage par le coup d’éclat que par la réforme, et ceux qui travaillaient sur le social le faisaient le plus souvent dans le même état d’esprit. Telle est la raison pour laquelle l’histoire de la coopération et de la mutualité a été négligée. Pourtant, ces deux mouvements sont les plus anciens de notre pays. Les premières sociétés de secours mutuel apparaissent à la veille de la Révolution française et la coopération fait ses premiers pas sous la monarchie de Juillet : ces deux mouvements sont donc bien antérieurs aux syndicats. Leurs forces sont également beaucoup plus importantes, puisqu’en 1914 coopérateurs et mutualistes sont dix fois plus nombreux que les syndicalistes. Cet article explique les raisons d’un tel oubli, fait le point sur l’histoire de la coopération et de la mutualité et propose un certain nombre de pistes de recherches.

Copyright of Histoire & Mesure is the property of Editions EHESS and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Québec has been structuring and promoting a social economy sector since the mid-1990s. What explains this specificity of the Québec social model? Careful process tracing analysis reveals that the mobilization of Québec's left in the mid- 1990s, followed by coalition engineering during the 1996 economy and employment summit, account for Québec's distinct trajectory. Consistent with power resource theory (PRT), at the agenda-setting stage, protagonists of Québec's social economy policies were associated with the left. Contrary to what is assumed by PRT, however, at the decision stage, the right's consent to social economy policies was not conditioned by a weak bargaining position or by a fear of antagonizing voters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: To enable mutual health funds to extend coverage to poor people, the Mutual Health Support Network (Réseau d’appui aux mutuelles de santé – RAMS) in 2012 launched an initiative in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Action and Solidarity (ministère de l’Action sociale et de la Solidarité nationale – MASSN) in Burkina Faso. This article reveals difficulties in the initiative's implementation, which resulted in the continued exclusion of poor people from health services. Poor people were required not only to make co‐payments, but also to accept a limitation of coverage to three episodes of illness per year. Additional challenges to service takeup were the geographical distance of the homes of some beneficiaries covered by a mutual fund agreement from a health centre and the failure by some health workers and managers of pharmacies to recognize the mutual membership card. A formal framework was lacking that brought together all the actors involved in planning and implementing the initiative. Those involved did not all have the same information. Each structure performed the tasks within its scope, according to its own interests, but without consulting the other parties, and there was no platform for discussing implementation difficulties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Dados - Revista de Ciências Sociais is the property of DADOS and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)