Workshop Series Solidarity Economy Examples, Initiatives and Strategies in a European Context ENA, 10-13th August 2011

http://www.akademie-solidarische-oekonomie.de

Workshop Series

Solidarity Economy Examples, Initiatives and Strategies in a

European Context

ENA, 10-13th August 2011

Overview Session 1 Wednesday 09.30-12.00:

Introduction: Positions, Strategies and Practice

Session 4 Saturday 09.30-12.00 :

Pathes of Transformation and Processes of Change

Session 2 Thursday 09.30-12.00 :

Routes out of the crises – new perspectives: Enterprises into the hands of the employees!

Session 3 Friday 09.30-12.00 :

Social Economy, Solidarity Economy and Distributive Economy – Perspectives of a Post-Growth Economy?

H. Bender, G. Giorgi, J. Combes

J. Combes, H. Bender. E. Goujot, G. Giorgi, M. Arhelger

G. Giorgi, H. Daniels, G. Nottenbohm

H. Bender. Peter Schönhöffer, J. Combes,

Agenda Session 4

09.30: Welcome and Introduction

09.40: Introduction: Transformation: Methods and Processes and Strategies

10.10: Examples: Regional Projects and Initiatives

10.00: Feedbacks and Discussion



11.00: Pathes of Transformation


Transformation: Methods and Processes

Introduction

Harald Bender

Why Transformation? Principles and Crises of Capitalist Economy

Principle of ProfitPrinciple of PrivatizationPrinciple of GrowthPrinciple of Commodification

> Money as a commodity

> Natural resources as commodities> The world as a commodity

Ecological Crises / Economical Crises, Financial Crises, Civilisatorian Crises

Transformation: Methods and Processes Transformation as a process > historic and ongoing process, non-linear, producing disruptions, producing novelty.

Transformation as a method> orientation on open process and „keyleverages“ to „trigger“ transformation and change.

What does this mean for political and economical action?

> Orientation on a participative, open method. Self dynamic processes are to be „produced“.

Fields of Strategy in the Transformation Project

Creation of Solidarity Economy projektcts


Institutional redesign of economy and society


Movement-Work and and political Mobilization


Innovation of central legal institutions

Innovation of leading criteria of action

Political action / Micro-economic

decisions

Ongoing transformation of economy and society

Critical situation of change and „Point of turnover“


Pathes of Transformation from a Capitalist to a Solidarity Ecponomy

Harald Bender

Key questions:

Alternative ways to economize or alternative systems?Is a mixed economy possible?How could a project of transformation and a strategy of transformation look like?

1 Fields of Action

Microlevel: Social exchange, cooperative action, solidary lifestyle and way to consum >cultural change! Intermediate level: Alternative enterprises, circles of barter, regional currencies, cooperatives, enterprises in the hands of the employees, associations of solidarian enterprises and cooperatives, foundations of Solidarity Economy, public institutions of Solidarity Economy >building of networks!Macrolevel: Political and judical system, „frameworks“ (constitutional order, law of association, law of property, land rights, right of co-determination, insolvency law, tax laws, public domains) > political mobilization!

2. Theses Transformation Project / PathesThe synergy of the four transformation pathes 1 Democratization of Economy and Constitutional Change

2 „Solidarian Market“ (Reformed Corporations)

3 Cooperative Economy (Cooperatives of Reproduction)

4 Socialization of Capitalmakes possible fundamental processes of transformation from a capitalist to a Solidarity Economy.

This will lead to a mixed model of economy, where solidarian and competitive attitudes and units compete for brains, hearts and capital.

2.1 Transformation Path „Constitutional Change“

1. Constitutional goals and values for the economy > Sustainability (economical, social and ecological)

as a economic principle with constitutional rank (binding all subsequent laws).

> The protection of public goods as a constitutional commitment for the economy .

> Constitutional rank of democratic principles for enterprises with nationwide relevance.

Effects of new constitutional principles on various fields of politics

Law of property -- Law of association – law of cooperations– Law of co-determination - Financial reform

Tax laws – Social policy – Advancement policy – Balance-rules – Decentralization– Direct participation

Law of property -- Law of association – law of cooperations– Law of co-determination - Financial reform

Tax laws – Social policy – Advancement policy – Balance-rules – Decentralization– Direct participation

Political and systemic steering

„Sustainability“ - „ Protection of common goods“ - „Econ. Democratization“

2.2 Transformation Path „Solidarian Market“ 2. Institutional Framework

> Reform of stock corporation with sustainability and common welfare balance.

> Corporate tax reform with tax classes according to (balanced) common welfare and sustainability criteria.

> New Law of Insolvency (Employees have the right, to take over).

> Institutions granting of solidary capital (public capital) and giving assitance in foundation.

> Basic social income for every family (to put away the obligation to compete),

2.3 Transformation Path „Socialization of Capital“ „Public Capital“> Criteria: Positive Effects on social and natural Invoronment (common welfare and sustainabilty)

Bank created money as „public capital“ „Created“ and granted by the central reserve bank as an Institution of society.> Private Banks only as facilitators centraly „created“ capital. > Yields from „created“ capital belong to the society, not to the private facilitator (he must only charge his service for the appropriate allocation).

Linearization of Interest Rates> To overcome „eternal“ und expotentially growing debst.

Money as an Instrument – not as a commodity

Money should be an aquivalent for achievements of the real economy. It is a cardinal error of the existing monetary system, that it allows to make money out of money (self-referentiality). This error starts with interest rates: As all prices, rental fees and taxes contain about 30-40% of intest costs, all have to pay what some will earn.

% p.a.

Self referentiality of capital

Owners of capital can make money from money without effort.At the capital markets the self-referential increase of money and monetary titles takes ever new forms and reaches overflowing degrees, challenging the means of whole states and nations. High spirits at the stock exchange

The administration of the global financial system The military violence of colonialism in today’s post-colonial era is replaced by the structural violence of a globalized financial system, executed by the IMF, the Worldbank and the WTO. This means institutionalized injustice on a global scale. But also economic war in a more narrow sense is about to be reintroduced to political common sense today.

2.4 Transformation Path „Cooperative Economy“

Cooperatives of Reproduction (W. Fabricius)> Breakup of seperation of producers and consumers

> Prefinancierung of production by corporate consumers> Assessment of demand in „Web-Shops“> Reimbursement of transparent producers‘ costs> m – a - m‘ (accumulation of capital) comes back to a – m – a> Production oriented on needs of life> No growth of social inequiality stems from the relation between producer and consumer

2 Transformation Pathes / AlliancesPositions of Solidarity Economy find potential allies in critics of globalization, in ecological movements and parties, in trade unions and in christian churches. Alliances with trade unions and compatibilty with their positions are to regarded as a critical factor of success.Parts of liberal, social democratic or christian democratic positions are compatible, as the mixed model still gives room for private enterprises and competitive market within a value oriented framework. Traditional left positions are difficult to integrate, as capitalism in fact is only transformed in the long run and in the wake of an open process, that may lead to unexpected results – e.g. the surviving of a reformed capitalism – as well.

3. Macrolevel of Political Mobilization Strategic leverages for the change of economic

framework conditions

Creation of solidary economic institutions of a public economical domain, attached to constitutional values (human rights, dignity of man, freedom from discrimination).Establishment of a financial pool for Solidarity Economy with public capital, counterbalancing social damages stemming from the use of private capital.Tax privileges and public advancement of social und ecological oriented enterprises and cooperatives.

Fields of Strategy in the Transformation Project







Innovation of central legal institutions

Innovation of leading criteria of action

Political action / Micro-economic

decisions

Ongoing transformation of economy and society

Critical situation of change and „Point of turnover“


Workshop

Fundamentals of Solidary Economcy and Pathes of Transformation

Thank youfor your participation

Documents

Workshop Series Solidarity Economy Examples, Initiatives and Strategies in a European Context ENA, 10-13th August 2011