Abstract
Drawing on recent work that makes a conceptual connection between utopia and social innovation for social change (Langergaard and Eschweiler 2022), this paper draws on empirical work to study how SSE actors construct, communicate and enact social imaginaries in their various transformative pursuits. More specifically it focusses on contents, functions and forms of utopia (Levitas 2011) in six German SSE organisations, embedded in democratic and legal structures which endow them with legitimacy claims to their change efforts. The paper starts from an understanding of utopia as both idea and ideal (Vieira 2017), as we understand SSE organisations as political, seeking to alleviate consequences of various crises, while keen to preserve or deepen the democratic structures that they originate in (Laville & Salmon 2015).
The methodological approach is inspired by Levitas’ distinction of content, form and function of utopia (2011). Content is the actual utopian portrayal and function refers to the desire for something else (like Bloch’s not-yet or Carvalho’s education for desire), for a better life or a better way of being. Dreaming and imagining can either be a form of compensation for harsh realities, the source of critique and sub-sequent action. While compensation can result in a wishful state of dreaming for oneself (Levitas 1990), much of social science and philosophy work on utopia centers the utopian function around critique - articulating the present as unsatisfactory - and change - the capacity to inspire the pursuit of a different world. With critique also come projections, hopes, dreams and aspirations for a better future (Jakobsen 2017). Form refers to the way utopia is told. It can be descriptive (in literature, art, performance, mission statements), experimental or experiential, like collective organizing, events or practical rearrangements of the way we live together, relationally and physically.
Empirical basis are six interviews with SSE actors in Germany who work on a variety of issues. The analysis reflects on the functions actors ascribe to the contents of utopia themselves: social dreaming as critique and reflection on strategy for action. Does the utopian dimension merely open a critique? Do actors see a-yet possibility for change, or are they merely striving for an idea about an alternative? We assume the function of utopia to influence its form, expressed in SI process and repertoire, embedded in structural context.
Based on analysis so far SSE actors reflect what Wright called symbiotic transformations that both expand social power and strengthen aspects of the existing system (2010, 305). Social change occurs on the inside of actors and on the outside through professional ways of sharing. We argue however that contexts of social change are highly political, even incremental change is difficult to pursue in a pluralist world. Hence the utopian spark gives us an indication how radical or incremental the desire for change and related strategies is, ultimately shedding light on how actors pursue change in light of their imagined future (Levitas 2013).
The methodological approach is inspired by Levitas’ distinction of content, form and function of utopia (2011). Content is the actual utopian portrayal and function refers to the desire for something else (like Bloch’s not-yet or Carvalho’s education for desire), for a better life or a better way of being. Dreaming and imagining can either be a form of compensation for harsh realities, the source of critique and sub-sequent action. While compensation can result in a wishful state of dreaming for oneself (Levitas 1990), much of social science and philosophy work on utopia centers the utopian function around critique - articulating the present as unsatisfactory - and change - the capacity to inspire the pursuit of a different world. With critique also come projections, hopes, dreams and aspirations for a better future (Jakobsen 2017). Form refers to the way utopia is told. It can be descriptive (in literature, art, performance, mission statements), experimental or experiential, like collective organizing, events or practical rearrangements of the way we live together, relationally and physically.
Empirical basis are six interviews with SSE actors in Germany who work on a variety of issues. The analysis reflects on the functions actors ascribe to the contents of utopia themselves: social dreaming as critique and reflection on strategy for action. Does the utopian dimension merely open a critique? Do actors see a-yet possibility for change, or are they merely striving for an idea about an alternative? We assume the function of utopia to influence its form, expressed in SI process and repertoire, embedded in structural context.
Based on analysis so far SSE actors reflect what Wright called symbiotic transformations that both expand social power and strengthen aspects of the existing system (2010, 305). Social change occurs on the inside of actors and on the outside through professional ways of sharing. We argue however that contexts of social change are highly political, even incremental change is difficult to pursue in a pluralist world. Hence the utopian spark gives us an indication how radical or incremental the desire for change and related strategies is, ultimately shedding light on how actors pursue change in light of their imagined future (Levitas 2013).
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication date | 2023 |
| Publication status | Published - 2023 |
| Event | 9th EMES International Research Conference on Social Enterprise: Act locally, change globally: Social enterprises and cooperatives for more resilient economies and societies - Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, Frankfurt a. Main, Germany Duration: 11 Sept 2023 → 14 Sept 2023 Conference number: 9 https://emes.net/events/conferences/9th-emes-international-research-conference-on-social-enterprise/ |
Conference
| Conference | 9th EMES International Research Conference on Social Enterprise |
|---|---|
| Number | 9 |
| Location | Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences |
| Country/Territory | Germany |
| City | Frankfurt a. Main |
| Period | 11/09/2023 → 14/09/2023 |
| Other | Why this conference? As the resilience of economies and societies is being tested ever more by war, climate change and epidemic health risks inter alia, it is high time to reflect on the contribution that social enterprises and cooperative<br/>and voluntary action can make locally and in a global context. Continuous progress against hunger and early childhood<br/>death, diseases and natural calamities is not assured. COVID 19 and other recent developments clearly demonstrate the<br/>fragilility of regional and global infrastructures, production, trade and transport systems as well as previously believed<br/>social certainties. Many systems need to undergo rapid transformation at the same time. Thus any research community<br/>is challenged to listen, watch, observe, survey and explain at ever growing speed while devising new methodological<br/>approaches, methods and theories. The 9th EMES conference is a rare opportunity for all scholars focussing on social<br/>enetrprises, cooperatives, the social and solidarity ecomony, social innovation and social impact to discuss, test, joyfully<br/>embrace or critically appraise each others development of thought and argument about the role and potential of social<br/>enterprises and cooperative and voluntary action in these changing times.<br/>Why Frankfurt? Our city might not be known for social economy activities as yet but they do exist in manifold forms.<br/>Exceptionally for Germany, Frankfurt was never ruled feudally. Perhaps this contributed to a wealth of civic and<br/>philanthropic organisations and social enterprise activities developing ever since Medieval times. As a town of commerce<br/>and arts, a special concern for vulnerable or trekking individuals and migrant communties is evident until today in<br/>Frankfurt.<br/>To be asked to organize this Conference in Germany is a great honor and a serendipitous opportunity. The German<br/>Government is just about to develop first strategy elements to support social economy organizations beyond the<br/>traditional welfare sector (Gemeinwohlorientierte Unternehmen). A social innovation strategy is close to being published.<br/>Research shows that 75% of all German start-up entrepreneurs are looking for positive social or ecological meaning<br/>while one third of investments are made into ecological or regional development. How befitting that the Federal<br/>Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action is patron to this conference! All of this is in alignment with the recent<br/>recommendations of the European Commission to the EU Council, of the OECD, of the ILO, and the most relevant of the<br/>United Nations Assembly, in a European and international SE field momentum.<br/>Our heartfelt gratitude goes to our partners and supporters in this event: Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences,<br/>Fachbereich 4, the Förderverein, the Competence Center for Social Intervention Research, the City of Frankfurt,<br/>Volksbank Mittelhessen, Siemens Stiftung, Polytechnische Gesellschaft, DZ Bank Stiftung, as well as the Zentralverband<br/>der Konsumgenossenschaften. We at EMES are greatly looking forward to meeting you at the 9th EMES international<br/>research conference. International scientific events like this become a success because of the participants investing<br/>themselves. These days, we know, the opportunity to do so cannot be taken for granted. We hope that you will<br/>throughly enjoy what promises to be an exciting programme of varied, high quality conference papers from upcoming<br/>and established scholars in the wide field of social enterprise |
| Internet address |
Keywords
- social innovation
- utopia
- social dreaming
- social transformation