040195 KU Alternative management - entrepreneurial organizations and social ingetration system (MA) (2023S)

The course is aimed at Master's students who are interested in economic enterprises that are oriented towards principles and concepts such as mutuality, self-help, democracy, the common good.

Alternative forms of economy are not a development of the 20th and 21st centuries, but can be found in modern versions already in the course of the 19th century. With the ideas of the Rochdale pioneers (1844) as an example of an early British consumer cooperative with social aspects and the initiatives of the German cooperative pioneers Wilhelm Friedrich Raiffeisen and Hermann Schulze-Delitzsch, economic models can be found that still have a defining influence on economic life today. In addition, social enterprises have also developed and established themselves, which can be seen as a manifestation of the current increasing welfare pluralism. However, this is not a homogeneous development within the countries of the European Union, but rather depends on specific historical and political backgrounds.

The aim of this course is to introduce participants to the concepts of cooperatives, social cooperatives, social enterprises, non-profit organisations and public benefit enterprises as examples of alternative forms of enterprises. The focus is on the similarities and differences of these forms of business in the context of the various countries within the European Union. Short articles/texts serve as a starting point for discussions. In addition, the introductory literature made available offers students the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the various topics. Participation, 2 short written assignments, a group presentation and a written final paper (10 pages/per person) complete the course.