SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGE OF SSE: SOCIAL NORMS AND VOLATILITY OF COLLECTIVE ACTION
SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGE OF SSE: SOCIAL NORMS AND VOLATILITY OF COLLECTIVE ACTION

Summary/Abstract: This paper offers theoretical reflection on sustainability challenge associated with the acts of solidarity. The focus is on the role of social norms, beliefs and local ways of life,as central factors mediating the success of cooperative initiatives, especially where it pertains to heterogeneous groups and interfaces. Based on an experiential account of informal street trade sector in a city of India, the paper first argues that Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) framework with its expanded notion including voice and agency, has much appeal for managing the urban street trade. However, it also observes that operationalisation of SSE framework – with its spirit of democracy, equality and participation - lays considerable demand on public policy to engage with citizens, as also on administrative capacity and social circumstances. Since SSE framework is value driven, role of norms and beliefs automatically become important in it. As such, manifestation of favourable circumstances – beliefs and practices – is envisaged not only for evolution but more so for sustainability of cooperative behaviour.

• Details
• Contents