How to understand SSE in view of a plurality of definitions?

According to the European Commission (EC), "social economy covers entities sharing the following main common principles and features: the primacy of people as well as social and/or environmental purpose over profit, the reinvestment of most of the profits and surpluses to carry out activities in the interest of members/users ('collective interest') or society at large ('general interest') and democratic and/or participatory governance.” 

Traditionally, the EC recognises four main types of social economy entities – cooperatives, mutual benefit societies, associations (including charities), and foundations – all being private entities, independent of public authorities and with specific legal forms. Progressively, social enterprises also became understood as part of the social economy.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) uses the term of social and solidarity economy, specifying that it “encompasses enterprises, organisations and other entities that are engaged in economic, social and environmental activities to serve the collective and/or general interest, which are based on the principles of voluntary cooperation and mutual aid, democratic and/or participatory governance, autonomy and independence and the primacy of people and social purpose over capital in the distribution and use of surpluses and/or profits (…)”. The ILO provides a typology of SSE actors: “cooperatives, associations, mutual societies, foundations, social enterprises, self-help groups and other entities operating in accordance with the values and principles” of the SSE.

Building on the definition by the ILO, the United Nations (UN) acknowledges the important role of SSE in contributing “to the achievement and localisation of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in terms of employment and decent work, the provision of social services, (…) the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women, access to affordable finance and local economic development, the strengthening of the productive capacities of people in vulnerable situations, the promotion of social dialogue, labour rights and social protection, as well as inclusive and sustainable growth, the forging of partnerships and networks at the local, national, regional and international levels and the promotion of participatory governance and policymaking and all human rights”.

To better grasp similarities and nuances between SE and SSE, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) defines that "social economy, also referred to in some countries as solidarity economy and/or social and solidarity economy, is made up of a set of organisations such as associations, cooperatives, mutual organisations, foundations, and more recently, social enterprises. In some cases, community-based, grassroots and spontaneous initiatives are part of the social economy in addition to non-profit organisations, the latter group often being referred to as the solidarity economy. The activity of these entities is typically driven by societal objectives, values of solidarity, the primacy of people over capital and, in most cases, by democratic and participative governance."