Alternative networks of collectivities’ and ‘solidarity-cooperative economy’ in Greek cities: exploring their theoretical origins

apostolos — Tue, 16 Apr 2019 22:25:21 +0000

This paper aims to explore the theoretical roots of some contemporary networks of creative
social resistance that contribute to local development through solidarity-cooperative economy.
In the beginning, the concepts underlying the research and the historical origins of solidaritycooperative economy are presented, and a brief historical overview is made. Then, the
research methodology is presented, and self-representations of collectives are explored
through discourse, that is, how these collectives are represented through the analysis of texts
and participant observation with informal interviews. It is found that daily practice is strongly
grounded in their respective and most pressing needs of people at times of crisis. The need
that generates these movements (as expressed through their own texts) is both material
(production and reproduction of life) and poetic (creation of new everyday life relations).
However, most interviews reveal that the interviewees seem to deny or, at least, seem not to
want to link their activity in the present time with any dream about future change of the social
system and any earlier corresponding historical effort (except for certain collectives inspired
by Latin American movements). In fact, the new feature of these movements can be
condensed in the statement: “we all together want to begin to plan the dream today”.
Eventually (in order to be effective in modern political-economic relations) modern ventures
of solidarity economy should be firstly and foremost social and solidary, and combine the
dream with daily practice.

Journal of Regional & Socio-Economic Issues – To Archeio

Alternative networks of collectivities’ and ‘solidarity-cooperative economy’ in Greek cities: exploring their theoretical origins