The Solidarity Economy is an alternative economy focused on values. With a base built by the people, for them and the planet; And that is different from capitalism, state socialism and the mixed economy of the party politics of social democracy. Most of its values are drawn from the cooperative movement: self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity; But a deeper approach to democracy is needed and is associated more with the self-managed ethos of multi-stakeholder and worker cooperatives.
Quote_miller-eIt rejects consumerism and materialism, but in a positive way, focusing on quality, rather than quantity. It rejects economic welfare measures such as GDP, since they promote unsustainable development, they do not register as much of the activity that it values, and they place great value on so much activity that it considers destructive. It includes much of the informal economy, from migrant savings clubs to unpaid child care circles.
SE activists believe that system change is essential and not possible without engaging in political struggles for radical changes in our political, financial and business systems. While they have chosen to make the economy the center of their work, they recognize that the “just transition” requires close coordination and solidarity with other social movements.
There is no consensus on the role that markets should have in the Solidarity Economy. Many focus on approaches that change the way producers and consumers relate to each other, whether through the creation of multi-stakeholder cooperatives or community-supported agriculture programs. But many believe that markets can be managed as ethical means to coordinate production and consumption through fair trade supply chains and supportive markets.
The SE is not a model for the future. It is a "movement of movements" that shares values but with many approaches to build alternatives. It is a place where those constituent movements converge, share, build mutual understanding, and begin to co-create the future.
