The social economy has historically played an important role in the context of economic
crises and recovery. The first cooperatives and mutuals in Europe and North America
emerged at the same time as the first labour organizations at the end of the 19th century
to protect working people from the impact of industrialization on their daily lives. The
present day context is no different. Over the past twenty years, from crisis to crisis, the
social economy has grown into a global movement that not only is responding to the
negative impacts of repetitive crises, but is proposing a broad vision of a pluralist and
inclusive economy within a sustainable development framework.