SSE Utopias and Imaginary narratives
Coordinators:
– Alexandrine Lapoutte, Université Lyon 2
– Timothée Duverger, Sciences Po Bordeaux
– Eric Dacheux, Université Clermont Auvergne
The Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) has a strong utopian dimension, a dimension weakened by the isomorphism phenomenon. In recent years, we see a return of utopias in society. What forms do the ideals of the SSE take today? Utopia is known to contribute to the instituting, creative function of the imaginary. The social imaginary can be notably approached through fictions, which possess a powerful symbolic force. Fictions (tales, literary stories, media stories, etc.) are conceived here as tools of transmission and transformation for the SSE. They are, to our knowledge, little used as such. This new working group would like to focus on the understanding of the SSE utopias, in particular through the study of imaginary stories, fictions, under diverse forms.
The question that emerges is thus: How can fiction stories contribute to transmitting and renewing the imaginaries of the SSE and how in return can SSE nourish the imaginaries?
- Work language: French and English
- Call for abstracts: HERE
16 proposals have been selected and will be developed first around 2 common axes:
- Utopias and Social Change
- SSE and Imagineries
Common webinars organized:
- Monday 16 October 2023 – 14 pm
- 24 February 2023
- 20 April 2023
- 23 June 2023
Then 4 specific meetings will be organized after September 2023 gathering 3-4 contributions on focused themes:
- Production of imaginaries by the practices
- The SSE in cultural imaginaries
- Imaginaries, epistemologies, theories
- The use of Utopia in the organizational practices
Deadline for drafts of contributions: January 17, 2024
1 workshop was organized during the 9th research conference on SE in Seoul, 4-6 July.
