Poland: social economy, closer to ‘social’ or to ‘economy’?

On January 9th, 2007, at the Institute of the Development of Social Service, the seminar: The application of social economy tools in social assistance system ? advantages and obstacles was held. The seminar was organized by one of the leading in Poland EQUAL projects and constituted a part of a general debate, triggered by this E.U. ? funded EQUAL program, on the role and place of social economy in our society. The presentations during the seminar, in accordance with its title, stressed that social economy instruments and tools should constitute a part and be used by public social assistance programs and thus be supported financially by the government. This view is opposed by the proponents of the opinion that one has to separate social economy (that should focus on generating income, if not even profit) and public social assistance system (that should help those most disadvantaged in a society, who, themselves, are not able to earn any income). The Polish debate on the meaning and importance of social economy reflects the differences in its meaning in different European countries. The country that stresses most the ?social? element is Italy, with its popular institution of social cooperatives. The country that stressed most the ?economy? element is the Great Britain, stressing conducting activities bringing revenues. Poland still does not know which direction to take. Opinions of the Polish activists seem to be ideologically closer to Italy, with the conviction that government should support thoroughly social economy activities. At the same time, however, Polish decision makers think that Poland lacks sufficient funds to finance such endeavors, and would prefer that social economy endeavors to finance themselves as much as possible. The ongoing debate on the meaning of social economy in Poland is far from being solely a theoretical one. Those who will be most influential in convincing public opinion about their stand will also have the strongest impact on the construction of the legislation regulating social economy ? related endeavors in Poland. The content of the legislation might be, in turn, crucial in a sense that it might direct the government funds towards the endeavors referred to in a law, considered as parts of social economy important for the development of Polish society.