The co-operative movement and the social economy traditions: Reflections on the mingling of broad visions

Abstract

The idea of the Social Economy and the co-operative movement originated in the nineteenth century but took on added significance in the twentieth century. This paper examines the relationships between the international movement and the Social Economy between 1909, when the forerunner of the CIRIEC Review and the International Co-operative Alliance Bulletin began publication. It discusses the complexities that characterized the relationship between the movement and the idea of the Social Economy as it developed and considers why that relationship is important for both, especially in the contemporary period. © 2008 The Author Journal compilation © CIRIEC 2008.