Green citizenship and the social economy

Abstract

Contemporary green political theory has paid little attention to the role that economic organisations can play in the cultivation and expression of green citizenship. This paper argues that the ethos and structure of organisations within the social economy – for example, cooperatives, mutuals and voluntary associations – appear particularly well suited for the development of relevant dispositions, skills and capacities. The associative reform of both the welfare state and the for-private-profit economy therefore offers a challenging and creative strategy for enhancing green citizenship.