Principal Investigator: dr. sc. Olga Orlić

Host institution: Institute for Anthropological Research, Zagreb

Duration: 1. 02. 2020. – 31. 01. 2024

Funded by: Croatian Science Foundation

Researchers:

Dr. Olga Orlić, Scientific Associate, Institute for Anthropological Research

Dr. Anja Iveković Martinis, Postdoctoral Researcher, Institute for Anthropological Research

Duga Mavrinac, M.A., Ph.D. Student; Institute for Anthropological Research

Dr. Orlanda Obad, Scientific Associate, Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Research

Dr. Nataša Bokan, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Zagreb

Dr. Aleksandar Lukić, Associate Professor, Geography Department of the Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb 

Valentina Valjak, mag.geogr., Ph.D. student, Geography Department of the Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb 

Dr.  Jelena Seferović, Research Fellow, ERC Eirene

Domagoj Račić, M.Sc. Mreža znanja d.o.o., Economist

Postdoctoral Researcher

Ph.D. student

Project description:

Interest (in practice and among the academic community) in the solidarity economy significantly increased following the economic crisis in 2008, when many people personally experienced inequality and injustice generated by the contemporary capitalist system. While certain similar practices were earlier known (Laville 2010), after the crisis a proliferation of initiatives “from below”, which were founded on the principles of the solidarity economy (Kawano et al 2009), emerged in Croatia as well (Sarjanović 2014, Orlić 2014, Gulin Zrnić i Rubić 2015). These initiatives are often immersed in the somewhat wider context of the social and solidarity economy (SSE) (Laville 2010, Dash 2014, Šimleša et al 2016), which is also often called the “third sector” of economy (Laville 2010, Fonteneau et al 2011) aiming at achieving sustainable development and correcting negative capitalistic practices (Evers and Laville 2004, Laville 2010, Fonteneau et al, 2011). Although they are similar to the extent, the solidarity economy relies on social capital of the individuals and communities more intensively and therefore it has a stronger cohesive potential. Also, it aims not only at correcting current negative situation, but to creating alternatives to capitalism. Solidarity economy is a term for a range of very diverse initiatives and movements focused on creating and practicing “alternative ways of living, producing and consuming” (Bauhard 2014), including initiatives such as communal living, workers’ cooperatives, urban gardening, community supported agriculture, eco-villages, ethical financing LETS (Local Exchange Trading Systems), fair trade initiatives and numerous others. By including an anthropological perspective and a diachronic view of the conceptualization of solidarity in the presocialist, socialist and postsocialist period, the proposed research aims to contribute to understanding solidarity economy practices in the specific Croatian context. The central research questions regard the different and often mutually exclusive conceptualizations of solidarity in the contemporary moment, new forms of communities of practice and new ways of imagining communities, as well as perceptions of the solidarity economy as a way of creating a utopia of reconstruction. The research will thus contribute to understanding the processual nature and the multiple intra- and intergroup dynamics among the actors of the solidarity economy, as well as to the theoretical consideration of the important anthropological concepts of solidarity, reciprocity and communities.  Research into the solidarity economy is not only important in the Croatian context, but also on the global level, especially as this topic represents an important link between the complex field of scholarly research (attempts to transform the dominant economic system via various social innovations) and the social and economic influence that the researched phenomenon itself effectuates. The proposed project wishes to contribute to the process of theoretical reflections of solidarity economy practices, alongside the application of an anthropological approach focused on understanding the meanings that those practices have for the communities (Grasseni 2013, 2014, Rakopoulos 2014, 2015, Cabot and Rakopoulos 2016) with respect to their broader transformative potential for society, as well (Laville 2010). The research will encompass the diachronic aspect of solidarity practices in the Croatian context, and a contemporary analysis of the phenomena. One of the envisaged research results includes the production of a model (guidelines) for the implementation of certain elements of the solidarity economy in public policy. The project also intends to bring about a certain influence on the development of the economy and of society.