240041 SE VM8 / VM2 - Social and solidarity economy for sustainable development in the Middle East (2022S)

The goal of the course is to provide an introduction of social and solidarity economy (hence forth SSE), as an alternative to the mainstream market economy, and its role in achieving sustainable development in the Middle East.
The course aims to critically review the neoclassical economics and its foundations as a theoretical base for neoliberal economic policies. This economic paradigm adopts market economy, rationality, competition, individual utility, profit maximization and consumerism and ignores at the same time effective political participation, social cohesion, justice, culture and environmental sustainability. The consequences of this paradigm can be tracked in the global financial crisis, surge in inequality, expanding of internal conflict and identity politics, global environment degradation among others.
The course will critically review the economic policies of International Financial Institutions and their role in increasing the inequality and unsustainability. Moreover, it will explain the SDGs framework and the contradictions between the goals and implicit economic policies that are adopted by UN agencies.
The course also will introduce political economy framework and participatory research methodology to enable students in linking the economic, political and social factors and to read the economy and development within the context of the political and social actors and their policies, in addition to understanding the role of society in the development processes.
The course will read the linkages between oppression in the middle east, neoliberalism, and the dynamics of conflict, by analyzing the role of economic policies in triggering and fostering the conflict and sustain it.
The course will introduce the definition of SSE as a model of political and socio-economic development based on principles of solidarity, participation, cooperation and reciprocity, (Coraggio, 2013; Razeto, 1984, 2000; Scarlato, 2013). It will explain the importance of new role of society, state and private sector in achieving sustainable development in the Middle East that match the aspiration of revolutions and social movements in the region.
The course will analysis the policies that can be implemented to transform the economy towards SSE and the main sectors that can be the leading in this new paradigm.

The key elements of the course will be:
1. Introducing the critical review of the mainstream economic theories and methodologies
2. A critical review for the neoliberal economic policies and the role IFIs
3. The sustainable development UN agenda and its economic dimension
4. The impact of mainstream economic policies: inequality between and within countries
5. The impact of mainstream economic policies: informality and lack of decent work (abuse)
6. The impact of mainstream economic policies: environment degradation
7. Economic mainstream and oppression and dismantling of democracy
8. Economic mainstream and conflict economies and social fragmentation
9. Alternative economies: introduction for political economy framework
10. Alternative economies: social and solidarity economy: concept, values and principles
11. Social and solidarity economy and other alternatives: circular, blue, plural, civil economies.
12. Alternative economies: social and solidarity economy: actors and policies
13. Alternative economies: social and solidarity economy: case studies

The course will be interactive and build the discussion on theoretical foundations, policies needs and options, and case studies.