Eco-Social Transformation and Community-Based Economy

Susanne Elsen is professor for social sciences at the free University of Bolzano, Italy. She has long-term experience in transformative research, development and training in fields of social and solidarity economy and community-based development in- and outside of Europe. Her emphasis as researcher and activist lies in eco-social development and transformation with a special focus on integrative and participative socio-economic solutions for disadvantaged rural and urban areas.

• Acknowledgements; Chapter 1: Why is community economy a central task of eco-social transformation?; Eco-social challenges and community-based economy; The new limits of growth; The necessity of a new great transformation; Prosperity or Growth?; Human needs and aspirations; A new social contract; Demographic change and post growth society; Work and productivity in a post growth society; Chapter 2: What is Community-Based Economy?; Differences matter; Reproduction and eco-social transformation; Embedded Economy – Polanyi’s legacy; Diversity matters; Hybridity and Civil-Society; Ownership, Commons and Communing: Ostrom’s legacy; Social capital and economic transaction for resilient communities; The economy of the whole house – a heterodox perspective; Chapter 3: Social and Solidarity Economy; A retrospection; What is Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE)?; Fields, purposes and effects of Social and Solidarity Economy; Third sector organizations and their potential for social innovation; New institutional arrangements and de-commodification; The potential of cooperatives; The Italian Version; Social Agriculture; Urban Agriculture; Community supported Agriculture (CSA); Solidarity Purchase Groups in Italy (GAS); Cooperative energy supply; Alternative and complementary currency; Time-based exchange systems; Repairing, Re-using, Recycling: Community workshops and repair cafés against planned obsolescence; Prospect; Chapter 4: How can Community-Based Economy be (re)built?; Re-localization, pluralization and economic subsidiarity; Community Development and social innovation; Transformative research as means of community development; Community-based participative planning and development – a retrospect and future perspective; New approaches in rural restoration; Reclaiming and managing the commons; Unconditional basic income; Reframing and re-embedding socio-economic transaction; Chapter 5: Case Studies: Their background and societal impact; Libera Terra – Social Cooperatives combatting the Power of Mafia Organizations in Italy; Riace – a small South-Italian village as a model for Europe; A multi-stakeholder network counteracting new slavery in Italian agriculture; Cosmopolitan Hospitality: Grand Hotel Cosmopolis; The sixth Continent: The House of Solidarity; Social Agriculture in Italian Prisons; Organizing citizen interests in a community cooperative; Revitalizing a village by hosting elderly people; A network to foster local alternatives: Social Economy Basel; Conclusions; Index