The aim of this research project is to "quantify" the effects of Solidarity Economy (SE) on individuals and communities through the operationalization of Factor C, as defined by Razeto "Cooperation, Community, Coordination,... [ view full abstract ]
The aim of this research project is to "quantify" the effects of Solidarity Economy (SE) on individuals and communities through the operationalization of Factor C, as defined by Razeto "Cooperation, Community, Coordination, Collaboration "(L. Razeto 2004, p.174); which is the factor relatively more abundant in alternative firms.
In order to carry out this study it was decided to resort to a similar concept, that of social capital (SC), for two main reasons, firstly because SC is a relational concept (Coleman 1990), as Portes recalls:"whereas economic capital is in people's bank accounts and human capital is inside their head, social capital inheres in the structure of their relationships" (Portes A 1998, p.7). Secondly, there is a significant literature on the study of social networks.
The analysis is organized according to the "Coleman's Boat" (1990), which is useful to explain the -macro-emergent phenomena (the increasing participation of individuals in SE) from a micro-foundational point of view (relationship among the people)" (F. Barbera 2004, p. 123).
The research methodology adopted is the Social Network Analysis (S.N.A) because it allows to draw the path from the macro towards the micro and vice versa, and to test the impact of the membership in Solidarity Economy initiatives on the single members. It also permits to test the size and the strength of the ties among the different group members, and among them and local institutions; credit institutions and international NGOs; and finally allows to check the possible differences between rural and urban networks.
In this research project the SNA is set through to the administration of a specific survey in two case studies: "El GIES Canchis" Sicuani, Cusco Perù and the "Remul Witral, Tirúa, Region del Bio Bio Chile. Both associations work with indigenous people, most of the members are women who are dedicated to handicraft activities. They have been chosen in two different countries in order to do an international comparison.
A "pilot research" has been carried out on the GIES Canchis by interviewing the presidents of the associations. Individual's networks are heterogeneous; presidents are in touch with different people- politicians (district and community level), charitable organizations, and medical personnel-. The effects of the network are mainly two: first of all it facilitates the coming out of isolation, and secondly it gives the opportunity to gather information about different topics: health, loans, grants and work. The networks of the associations are characterized by strong ties, because they can share the production process, the training and the internal loans. Among the members there are bonds of solidarity, which act as bridging so that members can find support outside the family's circle.
It is believed that these positive effects will be found in both case studies.
One is aware that to this approach will be moved at least two criticisms: on the one hand the concept of SC is a neoliberal theoretical construction; on the other hand it is not completely corresponding to the factor C formulation.
Nevertheless it is believed that the SC, once it is cleaned out from being an "umbrella concept" (Andreotti A., P. Barbieri 2003, p.1), can be useful for the analytical study of SE.
Moreover, a wider use of SNA it would be useful to create an international database of SNA data, in the footsteps of what is happening in Brazil, but "weighing" the relational element, factor C. The focus on social relations reaffirms the primacy of human history on the market, because, as Polanyi said "to narrow the sphere of the genus economic specifically to the market phenomena is to eliminate the greatest part of man's history from the scene"(Ankarloo D., p.1).
Keywords: Solidarity Economy, Factor C, Social Capital, Social Network Analysis.
(Bibliography is available but was not included due to space limitation)
