SOCIAL-SOLIDARITY ECONOMY: CONCEPT AND DIVERSITY OF ORGANIZATIONAL FORMS
Abstract
The purpose of the article is to consider the essence and evolution of the concept of social-solidarity economy; determine the state of the sphere of charity and the level of involvement of Ukrainian society in charity and volunteering in Ukraine. The study was conducted using general scientific and special methods and scientific approaches: logical-historical; study of cause-and-effect relationships, comparative assessments, analysis and synthesis, analysis of literature and official documents, generalization, the method of mass observations. The results of the analysis showed that although most of the concepts of social, solidarity, social-solidarity economy overlap in some aspects, they define this sphere and the subjects belonging to them from different points of view, thus covering different sets of realities. The article presents the concepts of social-solidarity economy developed at the international level, in particular, by the International Labor Organization, the European Commission, the OECD, and the United Nations, which call for the implementation of national strategies, the development of legal frameworks, and the provision of various incentives to support the SSE. Consideration of the social-solidarity economy in the dimension of the activities of entities engaged in economic, social, and environmental activities that serve collective interests based on the principles of voluntary cooperation, mutual assistance, and democratic governance reveals its potential as an important factor of inclusive and sustainable growth that contributes to social transformation and the reduction of inequality. The conclusions emphasize that for Ukraine during the period of Russian military aggression, social policy and various forms of solidarity play an important role in ensuring stability in the country, as they contribute to strengthening ties between people, reducing social tension, and helping to solve common problems. During the period of post-war reconstruction, a social-solidarity economy can become a key mechanism for the reconstruction and development of Ukraine, ensuring a balance between economic efficiency and social justice.
References
OECD. What is the social and solidarity economy? A review of concepts. OECD Local Economic and Employment Development (LEED) Papers, 2023. URL: https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2023/09/what-is-the-social-and-solidarity-economy-a-review-of-concepts_4b3d724b/dbc7878d-en.pdf (дата звернення: 1.11.2025)
Galera G. and Chiomento S. L’impresa sociale: dai concetti teorici all’applicazione a livello di policy. Impresa Sociale. 2022. Vol. 1. URL: https://rivistaimpresasociale.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/magazine_article/attachment/285/ImpresaSociale-2022-01-galera-chiomento.pdf (дата звернення: 1.11.2025)
Fonteneau B. and Pollet I. (eds.). The Contribution of the Social and Solidarity Economy and Social Finance to the Future of Work. International Labour Organization, 2019. URL: https://www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/wcmsp5/groups/public/@ed_emp/documents/publication/wcms_739377.pdf (дата звернення: 1.11.2025)
Соціологічний моніторинг «Українське суспільство». Інститут соціології НАН України, 2023. URL: https://kiis.com.ua/?lang=ukr&cat=reports&id=1282&page=1 (дата звернення: 1.11.2025)
Індекс сталості організацій громадянського суспільства в Україні. Київ: Український центр незалежних політичних досліджень, 2025. URL: https://ucipr.org.ua/images/documents/2024_CSOSI_report_EN_revII_24_07.pdf (дата звернення: 1.11.2025)
Реанімаційний Пакет Реформ. Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025: проміжні підсумки. Київ, 2025. URL: https://iaa.org.ua/articles/urc-2025-golovni-rishennya-ta-ugody-dlya-vidnovlennya-ukrayiny/ (дата звернення: 1.11.2025)
Defourny J. and Develtere P. The Social Economy: The Worldwide Making of a Third Sector. In: Defourny J., Develtere P. and Fonteneau B. (eds.). L’économie sociale au Nord et au Sud. De Boeck, 1999. URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/240335888_The_Social_Economy_The_Worldwide_Making_of_a_Third_Sector (дата звернення: 1.11.2025)
Van Leeuwen M. Mutual Insurance 1550-2015: From Guild Welfare and Friendly Societies to Contemporary Micro-Insurers. Palgrave Macmillan, 2016. URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318853796_Mutual_Insurance_1550-2015_From_Guild_Welfare_and_Friendly_Societies_to_Contemporary_Micro-Insurers_By_Marco_H_D_van_Leeuwen_London_Palgrave_Macmillan_2016_xiii_321_pp_Figures_tables_references_notes (дата звернення: 1.11.2025)
Vriens E., Buskens V. and De Moor T. Networks and new mutualism: how embeddedness influences commitment and trust in small mutual’s. Socio-Economic Review. 2019. Vol. 19/3. P. 1149–1170. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ser/mwz050.
Moulaert F. and Ailenei O. Social Economy, Third Sector and Solidarity Relations: A Conceptual Synthesis from History to Present. Urban Studies. 2005. Vol. 42/11. P. 2037–2053. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00420980500279794.
Epstein S. and Prak M. Guilds, Innovation and the European Economy, 1400-1800. Cambridge University Press, 2008. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03612759.2008.10527260.
De Moor T. The Dilemma of the Commoners. Cambridge University Press, 2015.
Gautier A. Historically contested concepts: a conceptual history of philanthropy in France, 1712-1914. Theory and Society. 2019. Vol. 48/1. P. 95–129. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11186-018-09335-z.
International Labour Organization. The definition of the social and solidarity economy adopted at the ILO, 2022. URL: https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/cooperatives/sse/WCMS_849066/lang--en/index.htm (дата звернення: 1.11.2025)
OECD. Recommendation of the Council on the Social and Solidarity Economy and Social Innovation, 2022. URL: https://legalinstruments.oecd.org/en/instruments/OECD-LEGAL-0472 (дата звернення: 1.11.2025)
European Commission. Building an economy that works for people: an action plan for the social economy, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2767/12083.
Caire G. and Tadjudje W. Towards a Global Legal Culture of the SSE Enterprise? An International Comparison of SSE Legislation. Revue internationale de l’économie sociale – RECMA. 2019. Vol. 2019/3/353. P. 74–88. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3917/recma.353.0074.
OECD. Job creation through the social economy and social entrepreneurship. OECD Publishing, Paris, 2013.
OECD. Job Creation and Local Economic Development 2018. Preparing for the Future of Work. OECD Publishing, Paris, 2018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264305342-en.
OECD. Social economy and the COVID-19 crisis: current and future roles. OECD Policy Responses to Coronavirus (COVID-19). OECD Publishing, Paris, 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1787/f904b89f-en.
Laville J.-L. Solidarity economy. In: Hart K., Laville J.-L., & Cattani A. D. (Eds.). The human economy. Polity Press, Cambridge, 2010. P. 225–235.
Hulgard L. & Andersen L. Social entrepreneurship: Demolition of the welfare state or an arena for solidarity? In: Andersen L., Gawell M., & Spear R. (Eds.). Social entrepreneurship and social enterprises: Nordic perspectives. Routledge, London, 2016. P. 22–40.
Дослідження сфери благодійності. Благодійний фонд родини Загорій «Zagoriy Foundation». Комплексний звіт, 2024. URL: https://zagoriy.foundation/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/02_12_2_doslidzhennya_sektoru_blagodijnosti.pdf (дата звернення: 1.11.2025)
Роль громадськості у відбудові: приклади співпраці з владою. Інститут економіки та політичних консультацій. Проект ERIM, 2024. URL: http//www.ier.com.ua/files/Projects/2024/ERIM/ПП_Роль%20громадськості%20у%20відбудові_UA_Бетлій.pdf (дата звернення: 1.11.2025)
OECD (2023). What is the social and solidarity economy? A review of concepts. OECD Local Economic and Employment Development (LEED) Papers. Available at: https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2023/09/what-is-the-social-and-solidarity-economy-a-review-of-concepts_4b3d724b/dbc7878d-en.pdf (accessed November 1, 2025)
Galera, G., & Chiomento, S. (2022). L’impresa sociale: dai concetti teorici all’applicazione a livello di policy [The social enterprise: from theoretical concepts to policy application]. Impresa Sociale. Vol. 1. Available at: https://rivistaimpresasociale.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/magazine_article/attachment/285/ImpresaSociale-2022-01-galera-chiomento.pdf (accessed November 1, 2025) (in Italian)
Fonteneau, B., & Pollet, I. (eds.) (2019). The Contribution of the Social and Solidarity Economy and Social Finance to the Future of Work. International Labour Organization. Available at: https://www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/wcmsp5/groups/public/@ed_emp/documents/publication/wcms_739377.pdf (accessed November 1, 2025)
Instytut sotsiolohii NAN Ukrainy (2023). Sotsiolohichnyi monitorynh «Ukrainske suspilstvo» [Sociological monitoring «Ukrainian Society»]. Available at: https://kiis.com.ua/?lang=ukr&cat=reports&id=1282&page=1 (accessed November 1, 2025) (in Ukrainian)
Ukrainskyi tsentr nezalezhnykh politychnykh doslidzhen (2025). Indeks stalonosti orhanizatsii hromadianskoho suspilstva v Ukraini [The Civil Society Organization Sustainability Index in Ukraine]. Kyiv. Available at: https://ucipr.org.ua/images/documents/2024_CSOSI_report_EN_revII_24_07.pdf (accessed November 1, 2025) (in Ukrainian)
Reanimatsiinyi Paket Reform (2025). Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025: promizhni pidsumky [Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025: interim results]. Kyiv. Available at: https://iaa.org.ua/articles/urc-2025-golovni-rishennya-ta-ugody-dlya-vidnovlennya-ukrayiny/ (in Ukrainian)
Defourny, J., & Develtere, P. (1999). The Social Economy: The Worldwide Making of a Third Sector. In: Defourny J., Develtere P., and Fonteneau B. (eds.). L’économie sociale au Nord et au Sud. De Boeck. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/240335888_The_Social_Economy_The_Worldwide_Making_of_a_Third_Sector (accessed November 1, 2025)
Van Leeuwen, M. (2016). Mutual Insurance 1550-2015: From Guild Welfare and Friendly Societies to Contemporary Micro-Insurers. Palgrave Macmillan. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318853796_Mutual_Insurance_1550-2015_From_Guild_Welfare_and_Friendly_Societies_to_Contemporary_Micro-Insurers_By_Marco_H_D_van_Leeuwen_London_Palgrave_Macmillan_2016_xiii_321_pp_Figures_tables_references_notes (accessed November 1, 2025)
Vriens, E., Buskens, V., & De Moor, T. (2019). Networks and new mutualism: how embeddedness influences commitment and trust in small mutual’s. Socio-Economic Review. Vol. 19(3), pp. 1149–1170. https://doi.org/10.1093/ser/mwz050
Moulaert, F., & Ailenei, O. (2005). Social Economy, Third Sector and Solidarity Relations: A Conceptual Synthesis from History to Present. Urban Studies. Vol. 42(11), pp. 2037–2053. https://doi.org/10.1080/00420980500279794.
Epstein, S., & Prak, M. (2008). Guilds, Innovation and the European Economy, 1400-1800. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1080/03612759.2008.10527260.
De Moor, T. (2015). The Dilemma of the Commoners. Cambridge University Press.
Gautier, A. (2019). Historically contested concepts: a conceptual history of philanthropy in France, 1712-1914. Theory and Society. Vol. 48(1), pp. 95–129. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11186-018-09335-z.
International Labour Organization (2022). The definition of the social and solidarity economy adopted at the ILO. Available at: https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/cooperatives/sse/WCMS_849066/lang--en/index.htm (accessed November 1, 2025)
OECD (2022). Recommendation of the Council on the Social and Solidarity Economy and Social Innovation. Available at: https://legalinstruments.oecd.org/en/instruments/OECD-LEGAL-0472 (accessed November 1, 2025)
European Commission (2021). Building an economy that works for people: an action plan for the social economy. https://doi.org/10.2767/12083.
Caire, G., & Tadjudje, W. (2019). Towards a Global Legal Culture of the SSE Enterprise? An International Comparison of SSE Legislation. Revue internationale de l’économie sociale – RECMA. Vol. 2019(3/353), pp. 74–88. https://doi.org/10.3917/recma.353.0074.
OECD (2013). Job creation through the social economy and social entrepreneurship. OECD Publishing, Paris.
OECD (2018). Job Creation and Local Economic Development 2018. Preparing for the Future of Work. OECD Publishing, Paris. https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264305342-en.
OECD (2020). Social economy and the COVID-19 crisis: current and future roles. OECD Policy Responses to Coronavirus (COVID-19). OECD Publishing, Paris. https://doi.org/10.1787/f904b89f-en.
Laville, J.-L. (2010). Solidarity economy. In: Hart K., Laville J.-L., & Cattani A. D. (Eds.). The human economy. Polity Press, Cambridge, pp. 225–235.
Hulgard, L., & Andersen, L. (2016). Social entrepreneurship: Demolition of the welfare state or an arena for solidarity? In: Andersen L., Gawell M., & Spear R. (Eds.). Social entrepreneurship and social enterprises: Nordic perspectives. Routledge, London, pp. 22–40.
Blahodiinyi fond rodyny Zahorii «Zagoriy Foundation» (2024). Doslidzhennia sfery blahodiinosti. Kompleksnyi zvit [A study of the charity sector. Comprehensive report]. Available at: https://zagoriy.foundation/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/02_12_2_doslidzhennya_sektoru_blagodijnosti.pdf (accessed November 1, 2025) (in Ukrainian)
Instytut ekonomiky ta politychnykh konsultatsii (2024). Rol hromadskosti u vidbudovi: pryklady spivpratsi z vladoiu [The role of the public in reconstruction: examples of cooperation with authorities]. Proekt ERIM. Available at: http//www.ier.com.ua/files/Projects/2024/ERIM/ПП_Роль%20громадськості%20у%20відбудові_UA_Бетлій.pdf (accessed November 1, 2025) (in Ukrainian)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
