***Apologies for cross-posting***


Ethnographies of the Social Economy: Practices in Place


We are writing to draw your attention to a new ESRC project, based at
the
Department of Geography, Durham University (UK).

This two year research programme centres upon a grounded investigation
into
the social enterprise sectors of two UK cities, Manchester and Bristol
(additional details below).

At this stage we are interested in:

- Initiating contact with researchers, policy makers and practitioners
worldwide.
- Current documents and articles, around 'social enterprise' and 'the
social
economy'.
- Expressions of interest from organisations in Manchester and Bristol.

Please respond to this email: [log in to unmask] (Full contact
details can be found at the foot of this email)

For contributions relating to Manchester or Bristol, please contact:
- MANCHESTER - Chris Hewson ([log in to unmask])
- BRISTOL - Dave Land ([log in to unmask])

A project website is currently in development, further details will be
sent
out when this resource is fully operational.

Please forward this email to any individual, or organisation, that might
be
interested in ongoing developments within this project.

Many thanks

Chris Hewson & Dave Land (Research Associates - EoSE Project)



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Ethnographies of the Social Economy: Practices in Place

A research project of the Department of Geography, Durham University, UK


Background
----------

This two year project, supported by the Economic and Social Research
Council
(ESRC), focuses on the micro relations of the social economy. The social
economy has been defined as: 'non-profit activities designed to combat
social exclusion through socially useful goods sold in the market and
which
are not provided for by the state or the private sector. The social
economy
generates jobs and entrepreneurship by meeting social needs and very
often
by deploying the socially excluded' (see, Amin et al, 2002). 

Hitherto, most research in this area has neglected the detailed
ethnographies of entry into, trajectories within, and exit from social
economy organisations. This has led to inadequate understanding of the
dynamics of this sector, at a time of considerable policy interest in
promoting social economy initiatives towards the alleviation of
unemployment
and social exclusion. 

The social economy has been seen both as an alternative economy;
alternative
to the state or the market, and as an economic sphere in its own right,
thus
enabling an enlarged conception of the economy, and consequently raising
questions about what the economy is, or might become. Moreover, as a
distinctive sector of the economy, with its own procedures and
institutions,
the social economy is distinct from other 'third' and voluntary sector
activities which exist primarily for civic or charitable purposes.
Therefore, in contemporary understandings, both academic and public
policy
focused, the social economy is presented as a means of generating new
and
alternative forms of work and service delivery that meet a range of
social
goals.

The research builds upon previous ESRC and EU research led by Professors
Ash
Amin and Ray Hudson at Durham University.


Aims
----

This project will analyse the complex relationships through which the
social
economy is 'constituted in practice' in different places. The research
will
be conducted via detailed empirical analysis of the micro-social
relations
of social economy practice, through an ethnographic study in two UK
cities -
Bristol and Manchester. In response to a perceived lack within current
understandings of what makes the social work or fail, in its everyday
practices, the project will seek to reassess the complex and fluid
inter-personal relationships and spatialities through which social
economy
projects are constituted.

The research will aid better understanding of three key issues: 
1. The potential of the social economy in local regeneration, 2. A
rethinking of 'the economy' and how it can be adequately theorised 3.
How
the policy community might respond to the possibilities offered by the
social economy. 


The research will involve a fine-grain ethnography of each city,
involving
semi-structured interviews, focus groups and participant observation.

Findings from the previous stages of research on the social economy are
laid
out in:
Amin, A., Cameron, A., and Hudson, R., (2002). Placing the Social
Economy.
Routledge, London.


----------------
Contact Details
----------------

Chris Hewson & Dave Land
EoSE Project
Department of Geography
Science Laboratories
University of Durham
South Road
Durham
DH1 3LE
United Kingdom

[log in to unmask]

+44 (0)191-334-1829 (Office - Direct Line)
+44 (0)191-334-1953 (Project Secretary)