ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that there has been little progress in terms of constructing understanding of 'Social and Solidarity Economy' (SSE) in the Global South and North and their potential for diverse development trajectories, rooted within their different historical traditions and contexts. The concept 'SSE' has often been used to refer to forms of economic activity that prioritise social and often environmental objectives, involving producers, workers, consumers and citizens acting collectively, driven by values such as solidarity, equity and democratic governance, fostering social cohesion and favouring decentralisation and local development. Economy is an area of production, distribution, trade and consumption of goods and services by different agents in a given geographical location. On the contrary, the 'SSE' represents Global South countries, as it emerged in Latin America in the late 1980s, becoming more prominent over the last decade in the twilight of capitalism among governments, development agencies and scholars and active around the world as a social movement.
