Networked ruralities: the transformative potential of social and solidarity economy

This article analyses the expanding role of social and solidarity economy (SSE) in transforming modern ruralities in Catalonia. Far from being marginal or sectoral responses, SSE initiatives have become structural proposals capable of influencing sustainability, social cohesion, cultural production, and economic democratization in rural areas. The article argues that the transformative potential of SSE resides not only in its local actions but also in its capacity to connect through networks with other projects, institutions, and public policies. This relational network helps to overcome territorial fragmentation, rethink centre–periphery dynamics, and foster collaborative governance. The text combines analytical and proactive approaches, referencing processes such as the development of the Network of Cooperative Atheneums (Xarxa d’Ateneus Cooperatius), the approval of the Statute of Rural Municipalities Act, and case studies including El Refugi and La Traça Cultural. From this perspective, SSE emerges as a dynamic ecosystem providing socio-economic, cultural, and institutional infrastructures to address major contemporary challenges and to envision viable, fair, and sustainable rural futures.