Breaking the Cycle of Struggle: The Promise of the Solidarity Economy for Economic Justice

The battle for economic justice often feels like an endless struggle, similar to the tale of Sisyphus pushing a boulder up a mountain only to have it roll back down. While there are moments of triumph, such as defending past gains or mitigating harm, the repetitive nature of fighting budget issues at the state and federal level can be exhausting. However, there is an alternative to this constant struggle.

Enter the concept of the solidarity economy, which focuses on creating a just and sustainable economy that puts people and the planet first, rather than profit and growth. This approach has been practiced throughout history in various forms, including Indigenous survival and sustainability methods, cooperatives, community land trusts, credit unions, peer lending, mutual aid, community-led economic development, barter systems, community-supported agriculture, and fair trade products.

In everyday life, people come together informally to support each other in times of need. For example, in a tight-knit community like a dead-end country road, neighbors band together to help with tasks like removing fallen trees, sharing resources such as firewood