IDSC19H3: Community-driven Development: Cooperatives, Social Enterprises and the Black Social Economy

This course introduces students to alternative business institutions (including cooperatives, credit unions, worker-owned firms, mutual aid, social enterprises) to challenge development. It investigates the history and theories of the solidarity economy as well as its potential contributions to local, regional and international socio-economic development. There will be strong experiential education aspects in the course to debate issues. Students analyze case studies with attention paid to Africa and its diaspora to combat exclusion through cooperative structures.