Abstract
Building upon existing literature, this paper explores the interplay between local electoral politics and institutions created to advance the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) and sustainability. The connection between local SSE policy initiatives and sustainable economic development policy has been explored and established by recent research. However, despite the wealth of knowledge surrounding local economic democracy efforts, our understanding of the relationship between local SSE and local electoral politics remains limited and requires further investigation. The Barcelona 2030SSE Strategy is a case study of developing local institutions and capacity to successfully promote more democratic and sustainable economic initiatives. Several studies have analyzed the growth of the SSE policies at the local and national levels, yet the intricacies of how electoral politics affect economic sustainability warrant further study. Will recent electoral swings in support for pro-SSE and sustainability policies at the local and national levels undermine the institutions that have been launched in recent years to promote more democratic, inclusive, and sustainable economic development models? Using preliminary data from semi-structured interviews of policy elites and participant observations from public and governmental hearings, this research will provide a case study of whether the rightward ideological shift in global, European, and local politics will undermine these new SSE and sustainability-related institutions. This paper contributes to the growing body of literature on SSE and sustainability by exploring the often-overlooked role of local politics and elections in shaping SSE and sustainability policy outcomes.
Presenters
Eric Griego MontoyaStudent, Post Doctoral Researcher, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Economic, Social, and Cultural Context
KEYWORDS
Urban Policy, Sustainable Economic Development, Social and Solidarity Economy, Elections
