Solidarity Economy
A Plan to Resist & Build
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Our next live show will be Monday, March 17 at 3pm pacific, 6pm eastern. Our guest will be Emily Kawano, co-coordinator and co-founder of the US Solidarity Economy Network.
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Below my signature is an essay on Solidarity Economy Principles and Practices and information on the upcoming Resist & Build gathering in Atlanta May 2-5.
Onward to the world we deserve,
David Cobb, The Redneck Gone Green
Emily Kawano is a co-founder and current co-coordinator of the US Solidarity Economy Network. She also served on the board of RIPESS (the Intercontinental Network for the Social Solidarity Economy) for almost a decade. She is also co-director of the Wellspring Cooperative, which is developing a network of worker cooperatives and solidarity economy initiatives in Springfield, MA. Previously, Kawano was director of the Center for Popular Economics, has taught economics at Smith College, and has worked as the national economic justice representative for the American Friends Service Committee.
The Solidarity Economy: Principles & Practices
The seminal essay on this topic is Solidarity Economy: Building an Economy for People & Planet by Emily Kawano. What follows below is my effort to give a short overview of the principles and practices. I strongly encourage you to read the full essay, as it provides greater depth and nuance.
The solidarity economy is a comprehensive transformative framework aimed at building a just and sustainable economic system. It is explicitly and unapologetically post-capitalist, and the good news is that there are concrete real-world examples of the practices already being implemented.
Although the solidarity economy framework is unwavering in its goal of replacing capitalism, it is not a dogmatic or sectarian, a one-size-fits-all mode. Sometimes Leftists are accused of promoting “theories in search of a practice,” suggesting our concepts haven't been adequately implemented or translated into practical application. The nice thing about the Solidarity Economy framework is that it sometimes feels like “practice in search of a theory.” That’s because some Solidarity Economy practices are ancient, and individual practices can exist within capitalism. But the overall Solidarity Economy framework is to unite these principles and practices into a theory of change.
1. The Problem: Capitalism is Destroying the Planet
Economic inequality: The concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few leads to exploitation and marginalization.
Environmental destruction: Capitalism’s drive for profit results in unsustainable resource extraction and climate change.
Market-driven priorities: Profit maximization often comes at the expense of workers’ rights, social well-being, and ecological balance.
Social alienation: The system fosters competition over cooperation, breaking down community ties and solidarity.
These issues highlight the urgent need for transformational systemic change rather than mere policy reforms.
2. Defining the Solidarity Economy Framework: A Holistic Alternative
Principles of the solidarity economy:
Democratic ownership and control: Economic resources and institutions should be owned and governed collectively.
Social and environmental sustainability: Economic activities must prioritize people’s well-being and planetary health over profit.
Pluralism: The solidarity economy embraces diverse approaches and solutions rather than a single rigid model.
Equity and inclusion: A truly just economy must dismantle structural inequalities based on class, race, gender, and other forms of oppression.
Cooperation over competition: Encourages collective decision-making and mutual aid rather than market-driven competition.
A global movement:
The solidarity economy is not just theoretical—it is being built worldwide through grassroots initiatives.
It includes cooperatives, community land trusts, public banking, and other alternative economic structures.
3. Alternatives Already Exist
Worker cooperatives: Businesses owned and managed by workers, ensuring fair wages and democratic decision-making.
Community land trusts: Models that remove land from speculative markets and ensure long-term affordability.
Participatory budgeting: Local communities making direct decisions about how public funds are allocated.
Public banking and alternative finance: Financial institutions that prioritize social benefit over profit, reinvesting in communities.
Time banking and mutual aid networks: Non-monetary exchange systems that foster community support and economic resilience.
These examples illustrate how solidarity economy practices are already functioning and can be scaled up to transform the broader economic system.
4. The Path Forward: Growing the Solidarity Economy Movement
A new economic system requires intentional strategy and organizing to connect and expand solidarity economy practices.
Mapping and connecting existing efforts:
Many solidarity economy practices already exist but are fragmented.
Organizing efforts should focus on linking these initiatives into a coherent movement.
Shifting economic narratives:
The dominant capitalist narrative must be challenged to make the solidarity economy more widely understood.
Education, storytelling, and grassroots organizing are essential to shifting public consciousness.
Policy and institutional support:
Governments and policymakers can help scale up solidarity economy models through supportive legislation.
Public funding and incentives should be redirected toward cooperative and community-based economic initiatives.
Building power through movement alliances:
Solidarity economy efforts must align with broader social movements, including labor rights, racial justice, and environmental activism.
We need a “Resist & Build” or “Build & Fight” strategic orientation to resist corporate and state efforts to co-opt or suppress transformative economic alternatives.
Conclusion: Toward a Just and Sustainable Future
Emily Kawano’s essay calls for a systemic transformation rather than piecemeal reforms. The solidarity economy offers a pathway beyond capitalism by centering democratic ownership, social equity, and ecological sustainability.
The crises of capitalism demand bold, systemic alternatives.
The solidarity economy is already taking shape through real-world initiatives.
Scaling and strengthening the movement requires organizing, education, and political strategy.
By embracing the solidarity economy, communities can build an economy that prioritizes people and the planet over profit, laying the foundation for a more just and sustainable world.
Resist & Build
Resist & Build is an online space where social change agents connect, learn from each other, and seek opportunities to collaborate. We strive to foster a vibrant ecosystem for systemic transformation through dialogue, relationship-building, and collective action.
The goals of the Resist & Build network are both simple and revolutionary:
Strengthen Relationships
Build trust and deepen connections to amplify our collective impact and sustain our movements
Sharpen Analysis Around Systemic Change
Engage in rigorous dialogue to deepen our understanding of post-capitalist futures and non-reformist strategies
Connect Resist & Build Efforts
Bridge resistance and creation by connecting movements that challenge oppression with those building just alternatives
Gather Regularly for Shared Learning
Convene to exchange insights, celebrate victories, and weave together diverse movement experiences
Collaborate for Systemic Change
Practice collaboration through real projects, honing our collective ability to create transformative solutions and systemic change
Cultivate Transformative Culture
Foster a joyful, principled community that embodies solidarity economy values and empowers implementation of liberatory practices
If that sounds like something you want to be part of, HMU and let’s talk!
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And if you already know you want to be part of this, please join us in Atlanta May 2-5 for an in-person convening we are calling “Solidarity at Scale: Converging our Movements for System Change.”
We will be exploring post-capitalist futures and forging connections between resistance movements and alternative institution builders. There will be strategy sessions, workshops, plenaries, and a “Carnival Beyond Capitalism.”
I'm interested in attending the May 2-5 Atlanta "convention" and would like to learn more about it. Costs. Lodging. Etc.