Rethinking the Social and Solidarity Economy in Light of Community Practice

Building social alternatives is essential to resist the destructive impacts of the capitalist organization on the quality of life, social organization, and the planet. This paper offers an analysis of the ways in which peoples are mobilizing to build organizations and to define social movements to move beyond current crises. The construction of an ecologically sound and social-solidarity economy requires mechanisms for mutual cooperation based on alternative systems of decision making as well as for doing work and assuring well-being to every member of the community; poverty and unemployment are not compatible with a sustainable bio-social system. These depend on forging a process of solidarity among the members of a society as well as building alliances among communities; to assure the satisfaction of basic needs while also attending the most pressing requirements for physical, social and environmental infrastructure and to assure the conservation and rehabilitation of their ecosystems.