L’economie Sociale ET Solidaire : Entre Principes, Finalites ET Realites DES Organisations

The social and solidarity economy (SSE) brings together diverse organizations that share common values of solidarity, democracy, and the primacy of people over capital. However, these principles do not necessarily guarantee their effective implementation in organizational practices. This article aims to examine the foundations, social and democratic objectives, and organizational challenges of the SSE through a critical review of foundational and recent literature, with particular attention to studies conducted in Morocco. The review highlights three main findings. First, the legal status and stated values of an organization are insufficient to determine how its collective project operates in practice. Second, achieving social and democratic objectives depends on members' effective participation in decision-making, the identification of collective needs, and the distribution of economic and social benefits. Third, financial constraints, professionalization, and institutional relationships can both support organizational development and create tensions affecting collective decision-making. These findings suggest that the economic sustainability of SSE organizations should not be confused with the preservation of their social and democratic objectives. The article therefore emphasizes the importance of examining actual governance practices, the distribution of benefits, and organizational autonomy. Finally, it identifies opportunities for future empirical research on rural cooperatives and associations in Morocco.