Solidarity Economy as Part of Popular Security Enhancing Practices. A Neo-Polanyian Conceptual Framework

Based on a neo-Polanyian framework, this paper develops a conceptualization of solidarity economy as part of a ‘popular economy’ aiming at the securization of livelihoods. It relies on an original cross-analysis of case studies collected in Securing Livelihoods. Informal Economy Practices and Institutions (Hillenkamp, Lapeyre and Lemaitre [eds.], Oxford University Press [forthcoming]). We argue that popular and solidarity economy can be analyzed through the four principles of economic integration identified by Karl Polanyi – market, redistribution, reciprocity and householding – when understood as modalities of interdependence. This conceptualization allows a critical distinction between solidarity, protection and domination. Besides, it draws attention to the formal and informal institutions of protection and solidarity and to the importance to explore cross-scale influences to formulate and implement relevant policies to strengthen adaptive capacities in the popular and solidarity economy.