Solidarity Economy Movements Rising in Boston and Beyond

This course explores how solidarity economy movements are emerging and building towards post-capitalist futures in Boston, Massachusetts, and beyond. Solidarity economy (SE) is a set of theories and practices that aspire towards a more democratic, just, and sustainable world. SE frames economy broadly, as all the ways that humans meet our material needs and care for each other. SE can describe a coherent alternative economic system that would replace capitalism or refer to cooperative economic practices that already and always have existed. SE movements exist throughout the world but are most well established in Latin America, Canada, and Europe. SE practices include cooperatives of all kinds, participatory budgeting, fair trade, community land trusts (CLTs), mutual associations, community banks, alternative currencies, time banks, and more. Students will engage with SE movement organizations and practitioners in class projects. Various sessions of the course will also be open to practitioners and community partners.