The EMES International Research Network has been an observer of the UN Task Force on the social and solidarity economy (SSE) and is supporting a recent UN resolution on SSE. Professor Jean-Louis Laville (Cnam), one of the founders of the EMES Network, welcomed this resolution.
“The UN resolution is an important moment in the recognition of the social and solidarity economy. Three phases can be distinguished in it:
- At the end of the 20th century, a wave of citizens’ initiatives updated the historical approach to the social economy as much as it prompted the adoption of the new name of social and solidarity economy (SSE);
- At the beginning of the 21st century, on different continents, innovative public policies and framework laws were promoted to develop this SSE;
- It is now time for recognition within the major international organisations (OECD, ILO and UN).
The task facing researchers is to study this process of institutionalisation in terms of its contributions and limitations. Indeed, all institutionalisation is ambiguous, oscillating between normalisation (through institutional isomorphism) and change of framework (through its democratic opening). The analysis of these ambivalences is necessary to continue the path.”
EMES Network will organise several events to celebrate this historic moment for the SSE. Within the framework of the EMES Book Presentation Series, we will celebrate the collective work of the UNTFSSE, The Encyclopedia of the Social and Solidarity Economy. Join our members who, as well as Professor Laville, contributed to this project with several entries.
