2nd International CIRIEC Research Conference on the Social Economy

The Social Economy in a world facing a global crisis

October 1-2, 2009 in Östersund, Sweden

The world is undergoing rapid and extensive changes associated with globalization, conflicting ideas about the roles of the State and the reconfiguration of communities. The financial crisis that was followed by market decline and the fear of a world wide recession demonstrated the vulnerability and interlinkage of the global market and its national economies. In this context of decreasing markets, the role of Social and Public Economy is more of interest in the public discussion.
The Social Economy contribution to local and regional sustainable development, to the welfare system and to entrepreneurship and jobcreation becomes more evident and important. Social Economy in this context is made of co-operatives, mutuals, non-profit organisations like associations and foundations and contains several approaches that can be of use to individuals in local communities, social entrepreneurs, policy makers, community activists and researchers.

The 2nd International CIRIEC Research Conference will focus on the developments within the theme
“The Social Economy in a world facing a global crisis”
During the two conference days, researchers and practitioners from different parts of the world will come together and create new knowledge and awareness on different Social Economy models e.g. in Eastern Europe and Russia, in Africa, North and South America, Asia or other world regions, its relation towards social capital, regional development, social innovation, community and social entrepreneurship.

This conference follows the great success of the 1st International CIRIEC Research Conference on Social Economy in Victoria, Canada, 2007.

The Mid Sweden University, the City of Östersund, SISE/CIRIEC-Scandinavia and CIRIEC International invite you to participate and present the most recent developments within the international research on Social Economy.

Organisers of the conference

The 2nd International CIRIEC Research Conference on the Social Economy will be jointly organised by the Swedish Institute for Social Economy (CIRIEC-Scandinavia), Mid Sweden University , CIRIEC International and the Platform for Social Economy in the Mid-Sweden region, together with the support of the Central bank of Sweden, Mid Sweden University, the Municipality of Östersund, Jämtland Administrative County Board and Jämtlands County Council.

Objectives of the International CIRIEC Research Conference 2009

• Increase internationally the scientific knowledge and recognition of the Social Economy

• Strengthen and encourage participatory research between researchers and practitioners in the Social Economy

• Provide researchers, practitioners and governments the opportunity to exchange knowledge and viewpoints on the Social Economy in different national contexts

Researchers, government representatives, public sector representatives and professionals, working in the Social Economy sector are invited to participate in the conference.

General Structure of the conference

The conference is structured around three axes:

1. Two Plenary sessions
2. Four sessions with 8 parallel workshops each
3. Poster presentations

Dedicated space will be arranged for displaying posters of the conference participants and their organisations.

Thematic areas of the conference

1. Social Economy plurality in entrepreneurial forms

• Community entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurs
• A catalyzer for social cohesion and community development in local areas
• Social economy entrepreneurship vis-a-vis global energy needs and climate change

2. The Social Economy and Social capital

• Regional and local development by entrepreneurship and social capital
• Instruments and research regarding social capital and its social and economic impact on development
• Human resources for strengthening networking and social integration

3. The Social Economy - creating employment and environmental, social and economic sustainability

• Combatting unemployment and discrimination
• Environment protection and sustainable development
• Emerging sectors in sustainable production and services

4. The Social Economy and governance

• Social responsibility and quality standards
• Management and participatory governance
• Competition and respect of social economy identity

5. The Social Economy facing the world financial crisis

• Ecobanking and microcredit systems for social economy enterprises
• Community banking and new social banking
• The Co-operative banking system - impact of the financial crisis

6. The Social Economy and new public policies

• Interaction and partnerships with public and private actors
• Social innovation and its impact on regions and territories
• New opportunities after the crisis

7. Social economy development in different world regions

• Renaissance of Social Economy in the new EU Member States and Russia
• Social economy in Africa - actors, projects and aid policies
• Social economy in South America, its role for employment and social welfare
• Developments in the Social Economy sector in Asian countries

8. Is there a new Nordic model of Social economy arising?

• Contribution of the Nordic (Baltic) model of Social economy to developments in the new European Member States, Eastern Europe and Russia?
• Economic development and competitiveness?
• Development and impact on the welfare state?

It is important to include the gender perspective in all the different themes. The scientific committee will take that into consideration in the evaluation of abstracts.