Solidarity economy markets as “commons ecologies.” The politicization of the marketspace by Esperança-Cooesperança, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

Abstract

This paper analyses how Solidarity Economy markets contribute to the development of post-capitalist livelihoods, as spaces of politicization of production and consumption through the establishment of collaborative linkages between producers, between these and consumers, and with social movements. The case study analysis of the solidarity economy markets promoted by Esperança/Cooesperança, a solidarity economy network in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, indicates that such spaces support the emergence of counterpower by re-signifying economy activity and facilitating collective action. Fieldwork data indicates that they promote “commons ecologies” by creating linkages among commons and promoting commoning at larger scales. They also facilitating mobilization, from the part of participating producers and consumers, as well as the wider public, against existing institutional barriers to commoning.