Genesis of the Social Economy from a historical perspective with special reference to the theoretical framework that emerged in France

Abstract

This work identifies and systematizes the evolution, both in economic thought and in social movements, since the 18th and 19th centuries of what could be considered the emergence and foundation of today's Social Economy. In this identification, special emphasis is placed on the theoretical framework that emerged in France on this concept, promoted by social revolutions and philosophical movements of the moment. The Social Economy is characterized for being formed by organizations that develop their activity based on a series of social principles and values, being the cooperative societies the most remote and representative. It is cooperativism, among other social movements and economic thought that will be presented in this paper, the trigger of the current concept of Social Economy. In this sense, the contribution of this work is the systematization and enhacement of all these historical movements. These movements could be considered as the beginning of a holistic and evolutionary approach of the Social Economy.