Abstract :
[en] With the help of examples of FTOs in Belgium, France, Italy and the UK, we have applied
some of the features of SE approaches to the context of FT. It appears that FTOs are
particularly significant examples of SEs, combining in different ways economic, social and
sometimes political dimensions. From more NGO-like to more business-like configurations,
all FTOs of our sample seem to respect the key features of SEs, under which the primacy of
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the social mission, the limited (if any) profit distribution, the focus on innovation and at least
some degree of self-financing.
Nevertheless, there is some heterogeneity in terms of FTOs’ goals and activities. While all
FTOs seem to combine, at least, economic and social dimensions – although at varying
degrees and forms –, the political dimension is not present in the same way for all FTOs.
Pioneer FTOs generally conduct education and advocacy activities in a developed and explicit
way. Newcomer FTOs, however, have heterogeneous profiles in terms of political
involvement, as the positioning seems to depend much on the entrepreneur’s choices.
In terms of governance, practices are also very diverse in terms of leaders’ profiles, legal
forms and stakeholders’ involvement in the decision-making structures. Some FTOs are
quasi-individual ventures and are thus close to some American approaches of SE. Other FTOs
are much more multi-stakeholder and fit better in the EMES conceptualisation of SE. The
governance structure also seems to reflect to a certain extent the positioning of the FTO
towards the different dimensions of FT. FTOs led by activists and having volunteers or
partner NGOs on their Board seem to have a stronger focus on non-economic (social and
political) goals. In the other sense, very economic-oriented FTOs are often run by managers
with a business background and governed by their manager and/or their shareholders.
As a conclusion, this article has tried to provide some theoretical and empirical support to the
implicit link that has been established, both in the academic world and in the field practice,
between FT and SE. The diversity of the FT sector echoes the rich diversity of SEs’ practices
and conceptualisations. In such sense, considering FTOs as SEs is probably made easier
because of the wide and flexible theoretical framework of SE – few authors claiming to have
a “definition” of SE. If more restricted conceptions of SE were to emerge – e.g., the limitation
of SE to formal Third Sector legal forms, or to 100% market financing –, then part of the
FTOs would be excluded from the SE area. In such sense, FT appears as an important
laboratory the evolutions of which can feed the theoretical construction of SE.
