Rebellion of the 1980s
In 1986, CRISES was founded as a response to the massive economic and social crisis in Quebec, which faced similar challenges in other industrialized societies. This crisis, known as Fordism, involved the relocation of production to more profitable locations, leading to factory closings, job losses, increased unemployment, and poverty, especially in Montreal.
In response to this crisis, communities and local neighborhoods began to try solutions to solve the problems created by this crisis. Some of these solutions were effective and were recognized as social innovations that brought positive changes in the fields of business creation, social services, housing, child care, employment and territorial development.
Realizing the necessity of a more democratic and civil society-based development model, CRISES launched research collaborations between innovative organizations and social science researchers. Rather than merely criticizing capitalism, CRISES focused on emphasizing the positive outcomes of these social experiments. This change in perspective led to a new perspective that emphasized action and social movements and reflected the global paradigm shifts of the period.
In keeping with this new perspective, researchers collaborated with innovators to formalize and promote their experiments. This cooperation played an important role in the evolution of the role of collective agents and contributed to various experiences in social development, financial instruments for job creation and the development of a strong social economic sector.
Knowledge structure and social evolution
At CRISES, we believe in the idea of working as a team to create knowledge and strategy for social change. Collaborative research is at the core of our activities. This means researchers and practitioners working together to solve problems, bringing together different perspectives and skills. We want our research to be reflective, that is, to understand that we are not just observers, but active participants in the reality we study.
This collaboration includes standing up and criticizing. Standing out means having the freedom to explore new ideas and envision different paths for social transformation. Criticism involves questioning established knowledge with the goal of promoting change. By doing so, we help define what counts as real and legitimate knowledge.
Our approach to building knowledge is not only about theory; Rather, it is practical and focused on action. Our goal is to produce knowledge that can be used in global practice, taking into account the ideological and soft foundations of innovations. Through its connections with innovative agents in Quebec, CRISES plays a role in a social innovation ecosystem, where different forms of participation, organization, financing and democracy can emerge.
Our research goes beyond individual projects. We have identified key features of the social innovation system in Quebec, which developed in response to the crisis of Fordism in the 1980s. These features include participatory and collaborative governance, public policy integration, and a multiple economy based on social and solidarity principles, which coordinate market, distribution, and solidarity mechanisms. This approach defines the Quebec model, and our work aims to promote its understanding and development.
The challenge of a new era
In the 1980s, there were waves of new ideas and many changes in Quebec. These developments continued until the late 2000s. After that, however, it became harder for people to test new practices; Because the common methods became more stable. In 2003 and 2014, new governments decided to change the way things are run in Quebec to a more commercial style, which may mean that some organizations and programs may no longer exist. These changes are not limited to making public affairs more like private businesses, but also transforming the way Quebec is governed.
Now, facing a new challenge, the need for new ideas and solutions is felt. Community members and researchers should be in tune with cooperation to find solutions. This crisis can be seen as an opportunity for researchers and people in society to start a new era of ideation that focuses on fighting poverty, honoring people’s experiences, promoting gender equality, encouraging participation and helping the environment.
Believing there are other solutions, we tend to explore and share these ideas with others. CRISES tries to create a style of thinking that identifies different options and makes them possible.
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