Scope and Limits of Ecosystem Analysis of the Territorial Dynamics of the Social and Solidarity Economy. The Case of Territorial Economic Cooperation Poles in France[Portée et limites de l’analyse écosystémique des dynamiques territoriales de l’ESS. Le cas des Pôles territoriaux de coopération économique en France]

Over the last few decades, the ecosystemic approach to the social and solidarity economy (SSE) has gained ground on two fronts: firstly, in the field of collective and public action, and secondly, in academia. This dissemination, or even naturalization, of the ecosystemic approach raises a number of questions. Without rejecting its use, we argue for a sociohistorical and processual approach to SSE ecosystems, considering that while certain territorial dynamics of the SSE may, under certain conditions, accede to an ecosystemic dimension, it is always historically situated, temporary and contingent insofar as it results from power relations and past compromises between actors occupying various positions in heterogeneous fields (economic, bureaucratic, scientific). We will base our discussion on the case of the Territorial Clusters for Economic Cooperation (Pôles territoriaux de coopération économique) in France.