The reciprocity dimension of solidarity:Insights from three European countries

First published online: 16 January 2019The article argues that closer attention to how solidarity is understood and expressed in different European contexts can shed light on the conditions for establishing a social and solidarity economy. Drawing on data collected within the H2020 SOLIDUS project, which explores current expressions of European solidarity, the comparative analysis covers three social economy initiatives, each representing a country with different political and economic context. The analysis focuses on solidarity as reciprocity and, in particular, how it is affected by such factors as actor motivations, internal participatory functioning, resource mix and political legitimacy. While further empirical work is needed, the findings suggest that solidarity as reciprocity produced by social and solidarity economy organisations thrives where political institutions are both supportive and trusted, where public funding is accessible, and where partnerships with relatively autonomous social and solidarity economy organisations are genuinely collaborative

Resilient Organizations in the Third Sector. Professionalized Membership Associations, Social Enterprises, Modern Hybrids

How do nonprofit organizations manage to survive? How are they able to adapt to changed environments without losing their distinctiveness? Fifteen case studies of nonprofit organizations operating across Europe tell us a story of how to make ends meet. The cases presented, identified and analyzed in the framework of the European Union-funded research project Third Sector Impact (TSI) (Enjolras et al. 2018)1 , are organizations that are confronted with an increasingly hostile environment in terms of the availability of resources and co-operation with government. Some of them, particularly those in Southern Europe and in the U.K., suffer from austerity politics and financial cutbacks; some are struggling for recognition on the part of the general public or the government. This is still the case especially in post-socialist countries. The goal of this e-book is to highlight that, despite the fact that third sector organizations (TSOs) are currently confronted with a thoroughly changed environment, they continue contributing to the well-being of citizens in Europe through their innovativeness and by providing services as well as avenues for active participation. The book focuses on case studies of organizations that managed to find a way to adapt to a significantly changed organizational environment by alluding to the power of resilience.How do nonprofit organizations manage to survive? How are they able to adapt to changed environments without losing their distinctiveness? Fifteen case studies of nonprofit organizations operating across Europe tell us a story of how to make ends meet. The cases presented, identified and analyzed in the framework of the European Union-funded research project Third Sector Impact (TSI) (Enjolras et al. 2018)1 , are organizations that are confronted with an increasingly hostile environment in terms of the availability of resources and co-operation with government. Some of them, particularly those in Southern Europe and in the U.K., suffer from austerity politics and financial cutbacks; some are struggling for recognition on the part of the general public or the government. This is still the case especially in post-socialist countries. The goal of this e-book is to highlight that, despite the fact that third sector organizations (TSOs) are currently confronted with a thoroughly changed environment, they continue contributing to the well-being of citizens in Europe through their innovativeness and by providing services as well as avenues for active participation. The book focuses on case studies of organizations that managed to find a way to adapt to a significantly changed organizational environment by alluding to the power of resilience

Forward-central two-particle correlations in p-Pb collisions at root s(NN)=5.02 TeV

Two-particle angular correlations between trigger particles in the forward pseudorapidity range (2.5 2GeV/c. (C) 2015 CERN for the benefit of the ALICE Collaboration. Published by Elsevier B. V.Peer reviewe

Event-shape engineering for inclusive spectra and elliptic flow in Pb-Pb collisions at root(NN)-N-S=2.76 TeV

Peer reviewe

Rational dreamers?:Content, functions and forms of social imaginaries in social innovation

Drawing on recent work that makes a conceptual connection between utopia and social innovation for social change (Langergaard and Eschweiler 2022), this paper draws on empirical work to study how SSE actors construct, communicate and enact social imaginaries in their various transformative pursuits. More specifically it focusses on contents, functions and forms of utopia (Levitas 2011) in six German SSE organisations, embedded in democratic and legal structures which endow them with legitimacy claims to their change efforts. The paper starts from an understanding of utopia as both idea and ideal (Vieira 2017), as we understand SSE organisations as political, seeking to alleviate consequences of various crises, while keen to preserve or deepen the democratic structures that they originate in (Laville &amp; Salmon 2015). The methodological approach is inspired by Levitas’ distinction of content, form and function of utopia (2011). Content is the actual utopian portrayal and function refers to the desire for something else (like Bloch’s not-yet or Carvalho’s education for desire), for a better life or a better way of being. Dreaming and imagining can either be a form of compensation for harsh realities, the source of critique and sub-sequent action. While compensation can result in a wishful state of dreaming for oneself (Levitas 1990), much of social science and philosophy work on utopia centers the utopian function around critique - articulating the present as unsatisfactory - and change - the capacity to inspire the pursuit of a different world. With critique also come projections, hopes, dreams and aspirations for a better future (Jakobsen 2017). Form refers to the way utopia is told. It can be descriptive (in literature, art, performance, mission statements), experimental or experiential, like collective organizing, events or practical rearrangements of the way we live together, relationally and physically.Empirical basis are six interviews with SSE actors in Germany who work on a variety of issues. The analysis reflects on the functions actors ascribe to the contents of utopia themselves: social dreaming as critique and reflection on strategy for action. Does the utopian dimension merely open a critique? Do actors see a-yet possibility for change, or are they merely striving for an idea about an alternative? We assume the function of utopia to influence its form, expressed in SI process and repertoire, embedded in structural context.Based on analysis so far SSE actors reflect what Wright called symbiotic transformations that both expand social power and strengthen aspects of the existing system (2010, 305). Social change occurs on the inside of actors and on the outside through professional ways of sharing. We argue however that contexts of social change are highly political, even incremental change is difficult to pursue in a pluralist world. Hence the utopian spark gives us an indication how radical or incremental the desire for change and related strategies is, ultimately shedding light on how actors pursue change in light of their imagined future (Levitas 2013).<br/