Our world is marked by the climate crisis, increasing inequality and the erosion of democracy. We live in an era marked by permanent uncertainty, characterized by ecological, economic and geopolitical tensions which herald not only the collapse of a model, but also the emergence, still in the making, of something new. In these moments of instability, the responsibility falls on us to propose alternative imaginations, to project new utopian ideas. Yes, utopian: not idealized visions of a perfect future, but, as Immanuel Wallerstein would say, “credible, better and historically possible horizons of transformation”. This, I believe, is the true role of the social economy: to constitute a democratic, ecological and feminist alternative to a system which has exhausted its capacity to respond.
I am writing these lines from New Delhi, within the framework of the World Conference of Cooperatives, where the next International Year of Cooperatives will be inaugurated. In this space of global exchange, I realize two fundamental aspects: the present and the promising future of the social economy, and the leadership that Spain has assumed in this area.
The social economy challenges the reactionary logic of the complex times in which we live. This allows us to address great challenges not by restricting freedoms and rights, but by expanding them. This model redefines the coordinates of the traditional economy, consolidating a social foundation for our fundamental rights and respecting the ecological ceiling imposed by our planet.
In this sense, the social economy is a tool of economic democracy at a time when the very foundations of our democracies are threatened. It is also a solid commitment to a just ecological transition in the context of an exacerbated climate crisis. In addition, it offers an innovative path to advance towards digital transformation with rights, putting technology at the service of social majorities. Last but not least, it is a feminist model that demands inclusion and dignity of care. In short, the social economy shows that after decades of neoliberal devastation, there is a different – and better – way of doing things.
However, we can be deeply proud of Spain’s role as a world leader in the social and cooperative economy, a leadership that was demonstrated more than a year ago with the coordination of the first resolution of the United Nations General Assembly on this subject. From afar, here in India, I affirm it with conviction, while being fully aware of the challenges that we still have to face: the social economy is undoubtedly a real pride of the country.
This success is not the result of chance. It is mainly due to a dynamic sector and a Government which, for the first time in a democracy, has placed the social economy at the center of its priorities. A clear example of this commitment is that Spain is one of the few countries in the world to include the term “Social Economy” in the name of a ministry.
Over the past four years, we have resolutely opted for a model that not only promotes more inclusive economic growth, but also provides greater stability in a context of disorder and helps reduce inequality. Social economy companies and entities, guided by principles such as the primacy of people and the social purpose of capital, generate decent work and promote inclusion and non-discrimination. A clear example is its contribution to gender equality, which is reflected in the reduction of the gender pay gap.
Furthermore, these companies integrate groups of workers facing greater obstacles to accessing employment, thus demonstrating a social sensitivity that is rarely found in the conventional economy. Their impact also extends to rural areas and small towns, where they help to generate jobs and promote territorial cohesion, an essential element in combating depopulation and strengthening the social fabric of these areas.
Aware of this enormous added value – which often escapes traditional macroeconomic indices – the Ministry of Labor and Social Economy has promoted the LOSS of the Social Economy, supported by a historic investment of more than 2.5 billion euros . This project has made it possible to strengthen initiatives such as energy and housing cooperatives in transfer of use, care cooperatives, work societies and ethical banking, among other commercial formulas that redefine and address the major challenges that we face as a country.
Nearly two centuries have passed since, on October 24, 1844, a group of 28 weavers, inspired by utopian socialism, founded the Rochdale Pioneers’ Equitable Society, a founding step in cooperativism. One of the first Spanish socialists, Fernando Garrido, wrote a short text entitled Cooperation after a visit to Rochdale. He declares: “In whatever aspect we consider them, these associations deserve the attention of the philosopher, the statesman and the philanthropist, because they are a symptom of the intellectual progress of the popular masses and carry within them the seed of profound transformations and economic policies.
Much has changed since Rochdale, but our focus remains intact. Today, according to the International Cooperative Alliance, the sector has one billion members and generates more than one hundred million jobs worldwide. Despite the passage of time, cooperativism and the social economy continue to be the seed of the profound transformations we need to confront uncertainty, inequality and the climate crisis.
From Rochdale to New Delhi, from the 19th century to the present day, cooperativism and the social economy remain synonymous with hope: the concrete possibility of a better world. A utopia that, despite everything, we are already beginning to cherish.
