Social Enterprises and Institutions for Collective Action

International Symposium on Cooperatives and International Law
2025-10-24 09:30 - 16:30 (Europe/Paris) | The Peace Palace, The Hague, Netherlands, Carnegieplein 2, The Hague, Netherlands
This event will provide a timely platform to explore the evolving role of cooperatives within the framework of international law, highlighting their potential to foster peace, advance social justice, and contribute to sustainable development worldwide. It is a gathering that will bring together policymakers, legal experts, cooperative leaders, academics, and advocates.

The theme is Peace, Social Justice and Sustainable Development. The symposium will frame the issues that matter most to cooperatives, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges they face in today’s evolving economic and social landscape. By bringing together policymakers, legal experts, and cooperative leaders, the discussions will underscore how better-designed legal frameworks can strengthen the cooperative enterprise model, ensuring it remains resilient, inclusive, and competitive. Central to the dialogue is the recognition that cooperatives rooted in democratic governance and community benefit require supportive regulatory environments that enable innovation, access to finance, and fair participation in markets. The event thus aligns with the celebration of the UN International Day of Cooperatives, reaffirming the cooperative model as a vital tool for sustainable development, social justice, and economic empowerment worldwide.

From 11:30-12:20, professor Tine De Moor will participate in a panel on Cooperative Education and Training.

Join online or join on-site

Deadline MA Thesis Award CollectieveKracht
2025-10-31 00:00 - 23:59
Have you recently graduated and written a master’s thesis on citizen collectives, commons, collective action, or related topics? Would you like to showcase your work to a broad audience and contribute to the practice of collective power in the Netherlands and Belgium? Then enter the CollectieveKracht Thesis Award 2025!

Go to website to submit

This award is a unique opportunity to showcase your academic work beyond the university walls. You’ll contribute to social change and help bridge the gap between academia and grassroots initiatives. Together, we make knowledge collectively powerful!

The three best entries will receive a cash prize and professional support in making their work accessible and impactful (1st prize: €1,000, 2nd prize: €500, 3rd prize: €250). All three winners will also have the opportunity to collaborate with the CollectieveKracht team to translate their research into practical formats. For example a public-oriented infographic, text, animation, or short video, which will be published on CollectieveKracht.eu. This way, your insights reach the collectives that can benefit from them the most.

Lecture CiviCon: 'Back to the future? Commons as a normality in the past and a social innovation in the present'
2025-10-31 11:00 - 12:30
During the Culture Preservation for Global Sustainability Conference & Exhibition 2025, professor Tine De Moor will give a lecture as part of the plenary ‘Commoning: Redefining Commons of Civil Society and Civic Space‘. The lecture is titled ‘Back to the future? Commons as a normality in the past and a social innovation in the present’.

The program aims to strengthen the leadership capacity of traditional rulers by equipping them with practical skills and knowledge to engage effectively with both local and international stakeholders. By combining training sessions, cultural exchange, and strategic networking, the conference will position chiefs as key drivers of sustainable community development

10th EMES International Research Conference on Social Enterprises
2025-11-03 08:00 - 2025-11-07 17:00
Join us for the 10th EMES International Research Conference from November 3 to 7, 2025. This milestone event will bring together scholars, practitioners, and stakeholders in the fields of social enterprise, the social and solidarity economy, and social innovation.

This conference is organized by the Rotterdam School of Management (Erasmus University), Utrecht University, and of course the EMES International Research Network. The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Scaling Through Communities: The Role of Social Entrepreneurs and Social Enterprises in Boosting Societal Transitions’.

Go to the EMES conference website

About the conference

The conference will be structured around 15 thematic lines covering a vast number of research topics, backed by an impressive academic committee. We will explore the strategies, innovations, partnerships, and contexts that enable social enterprises to drive systemic change while scaling their impact. Rooted in the historical resilience of institutions for collective action, this edition highlights the potential of community self-governance as a scalable and sustainable model.

For this anniversary edition, you get the opportunity to explore two vibrant cities: the first half of the week will take place in Rotterdam, and the second half will be in Utrecht. The organizers will provide information on several hotels to help you arrange your accommodation and travel.

Call for proposals

Do you want to present your research? Submit your paper abstract, panel proposal or poster proposal by April 6th April 21 (extended deadline): 10emesconf.exordo.com

If you have any questions or need more information, send an e-mail to: 10emesconf@emes.net

Practitioners' Day during EMES 2025
2025-11-04 08:30 - 17:00 | Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam, Burgemeester Oudlaan, Rotterdam, 3062, Netherlands
The EMES Research Conference takes place from November 3–7, with the Practitioners’ Day on November 4 in Rotterdam. The theme this year is “Scaling Through Communities: The Role of Social Entrepreneurs and Social Enterprises in Boosting Societal Transitions.”

The conference is co-organized by Rotterdam School of Management (Erasmus University) and Utrecht University. Expect interactive sessions where practice and academic insight meet.

Registration has ended.

Program Practitioners’ Day

08:00–09:00 – Arrival and registration

09:00–10:30 – Opening ceremony and keynote

10:30-11:00 – Group photo

11:00–12:30 – 1st round Practitioners’ Lab

12:30–13:30 – Lunch incl. book signing (12:45-13:15)

13:30–15:00 – 2nd round Practitioners’ Lab

15:00–15:30 – Coffee break

15:30–17:00 – 3rd round Practitioners’ Lab

Open full program

What are Practitioners’ Labs?

Practitioners’ Labs are 90-minute sessions in which a handful of practitioners give short presentations about their social enterprises, followed by a lively, open discussion with other participants. Whether you are a social entrepreneur, a community leader, or part of a mission-driven organization, this is your invitation to step into the spotlight.

10EMESconf_Programme Practitioners DayDownload

The Commons: How can we develop a decentralized energy supply with a strong role for energy communities?
2025-11-13 14:30 - 16:00 | Elinor Ostromgebouw, Heyendaalseweg 141
As part of the 4-day energy event, the Energy Transition Support Center Nijmegen is organizing a meeting about commons. During this meeting, Professor Tine De Moor will give a lecture on the social importance of community building and cooperatives in particular.

LECTURE BY TINE DE MOOR ON THE SPREAD OF COLLECTIVE INSTITUTIONS IN EUROPE
2025-11-21 14:00 - 15:30
As part of the MOTI seminar series at Grenoble École de Management, professor Tine De Moor will give a lecture on the historical development and geographical spread of institutions for collective action in Europe, focusing on the example of guilds.

Tine DE MOOR will present: “Contagious Institutions? A longitudinal study of institutional spillover of European guilds”.

From the 12th to the 19th century, guilds became a dominant organizational form across Europe. While their emergence is often linked to urbanization and economic growth, this lecture explores how spatial and temporal dynamics also shaped their diffusion. Using a large-scale longitudinal dataset and statistical modelling, the study shows how institutional models like guilds spread between regions over time — offering insights into the mechanisms of institutional spillover and adaptation.

Location: Room F601, Grenoble École de Management

Join online: https://grenoble-em.zoom.us/my/semardf601

Launch ECCO and CollectieveKracht End-Of-Year meeting
2025-12-08 16:15 - 19:00
During this meeting, we will present the results of the Citizen Collectives Monitor 2025, which will be published on the same day. This will also be the perfect opportunity for the festive launch of the multi-year research project ECCO. Finally, we will award the very first Collective Power Master’s Thesis Prizes to the three winners.

Reserve a spot

Location: Erasmus Paviljoen, Burgemeester Oudlaan 350.

Tine De Moor will take part as one of the speakers at the Jan Brouwer Conference & KHMW Brouwer Trust Prizes 2026
2026-01-19 16:30 - 19:30
The Jan Brouwer Conference & KHMW Brouwer Trust Prizes 2026 is a conference organized by the Royal Holland Society of Sciences and Humanities (KHMW) around the overarching theme “Working together on trust”, culminating in the presentation of the 2026 KHMW Brouwer Trust Prizes.

The programme includes expert keynote presentations on topics such as polarization and resilience, the necessity of social architecture in democratic societies, and Tine De Moor’s talk “Trust in one another: the effect of collective action on democratic engagement” — how citizen collectives can contribute to rebuilding trust and democratic cohesion.

Speakers:

Prof. dr. J.C.J. (Hans) Boutellier, expert on polarisation & resilience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

Prof. dr. M. (Jet) Bussemaker, Chair of the Council for Public Health & Society, University of Leiden.

Prof. dr. M. (Tine) de Moor, initiator of CollectieveKracht and Professor of Social Enterprise and Institutions for Collective Action, Rotterdam School of Management.

Moderator: Prof. dr. G.T.M. (Geert) ten Dam, KHMW board member.

Programme schedule:

16:30 – 17:00 — Arrival & registration.

17:00 – 18:50 — Conference & award ceremony for the KHMW Brouwer Trust Prizes.

18:50 – 19:30 — Reception with walking dinner.

Date & time:

19 January 2026

Location:

KHMW, Hodshonhuis, Spaarne 17, Haarlem, the Netherlands.

This event is open to KHMW members and invited guests with their introducés.

Jan Brouwer Conferentie & uitreiking KHMW Brouwer Vertrouwensprijzen 2026 | KHMW

SEICA Research Group Presence in the Media
2026-01-26 10:30 - 12:00
As part of SEICA’s ongoing dialog with public and academic audiences, Tine De Moor will give an interview to Vers Beton on citizen collectives, focusing on citizen collectives with special attention to initiatives in the Rotterdam area.

The interview will explore the role and impact of local collective action and recent developments in this field.

National Commons Assembly - Brussels
2026-03-07 09:00 - 17:30
Commons in Belgium are invited to join the national gathering in Brussels. The goal is to facilitate cross-pollination between commons-oriented projects in Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia.

​Program – Stories from several commons– Keynotes by Tine de Moor and Peter De Pauw– Conversation between storytellers, the speakers and the audience– Two rounds of workshops by participants

More information and registration

Research Day of IOS Platform 'Bottom-up Initiatives for Societal Change'
2026-03-19 12:30 - 17:00
This research day facilitates the interdisciplinary sharing of expertise and helps to create (new) networks and collaborations. Researchers affiliated with the IOS platform will present their work and professor Tine De Moor (Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University) will give a keynote lecture on the maturation of citizen collectives in the Netherlands. She will explore how these initiatives have grown into a diverse and influential movement shaping energy, housing, care and food systems through democratic governance, local stewardship and long‑term community orientation. Their evolution shows that such collectives are not a temporary trend, but a vital complementary governance form whose impact on just and sustainable transitions is increasingly visible across Dutch society.

Register here

Location: Minnaert Building, Leuvenlaan 4, room 2.02

Entrance if free of charge, prior registration however is requested because limited seating

VLG Symposium - Commons in agriculture and forestry
2026-03-26 14:00 - 17:30
This symposium explores the history, function, and legacy of commons, especially in the Dutch context. It examines how commons operated historically, their institutional mechanisms, and their relevance today.

Professor Tine De Moor’s will give a lecture, focusing on the renewed interest in commons as alternatives to state and market governance. She critically assesses how historical knowledge about commons is often used uncritically or inconsistently in modern discourse. Her talk asks: What can we truly learn from historical commons? Which mechanisms ensured their sustainability? And how do they compare to other forms of collective organization in the past?

Register

This event will be in Dutch. Find the complete program below.

Programma VLG symposium 2026Download

CollectieveKracht - Citizen collectives and the market: between clashing logics and innovative collaboration
2026-05-12 12:30 - 18:00
Over the past years, citizen collectives have grown into visible players in sectors such as energy, healthcare, housing, and food. What does their rise mean for how we organize our economy? The next CollectieveKracht event (in Dutch) will dive into this question with a keynote from Professor Irene van Staveren (ISS, Erasmus University) and five parallel interactive sessions.

Get a ticket

This event will take place at the Lindenberg Cultuurhuis in Nijmegen. This event is made possible by the municipality of Nijmegen.

DescriptionCitizen collectives seem to follow a different institutional logic than the market, but their actual relationship with the market is not always so clear. They redistribute economic power, potentially reduce dependence on major market players, and can even discipline markets through price pressure or new norms. At the same time, their increasing numbers raise important tensions. Does competition arise between collective and commercial providers—and is that desirable? What happens when collectives professionalize? What happens when they make a profit? Can they use market mechanisms without losing their own values, or does mission drift threaten once financial sustainability becomes more important?

This event brings together scientists, policymakers, practical experts, and representatives of citizen collectives to explore these questions in depth. For everyone who wants to understand how the economy and society are reinventing themselves from the ground up.

Let's Talk Sustainability - RSM-GBS Alumni event
2026-06-12 13:30 - 18:30
What does sustainability look like in an increasingly turbulent world? The Business-Society Management department of Erasmus University Rotterdam is organizing an afternoon event on this theme, exploring perspectives from academia, business, and society.

The world faces a polycrisis: interconnected risks that demand new strategies to become future-proof. Profound societal and technological transformations are redefining business models, reshaping stakeholder relationships, and shifting expectations toward greater sustainability, resilience, and inclusion.

Tickets and more information

These turbulent times put global value chains under pressure. Geopolitical shifts are redefining the position of the European Union, and the future of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other international initiatives is actively debated. These developments challenge traditional ways of doing business and call for new forms of resilience, collaboration, and engaged research in a rapidly changing world. What could this look like? Eight speakers will share their insights and explore these questions.

The program will kick-off with a lecture bij Professor Tine De Moor, titled: ‘Social enterprises and collective action – creating new business models?‘

Program

13:30-14:00 Registration

14:00-15:00 Academic perspective

Prof. Dr. Tine de Moor (RSM Faculty)

Prof. Rob van Tulder (Emeritius, Ex-RSM Faculty)

Dr. Ferran Torres (RSM Faculty)

15:00-16:00 Corporate perspective

Robert van Raamsdonk (Barry Callebaut, RSM alumnus)

Marlies Overbeeke (FrieslandCampina, RSM alumna)

16:00-17:00 Societal perspective

Francisca Hubeek (Oikocredit Netherlands, RSM alumna)

Max van Gaalen (BDO Sustainability, RSM alumnus)

Ronald Wormgoor (NL Representative in Brussels, RSM alumnus)

17:00-18:30 Drinks

Symposium - Community contributions to societal challenges: Why they matter and how they work
2026-06-17 09:15 - 15:00
Community participation is vital for well-functioning societies. Both in academic circles and in societal institutions, there is lively debate and experimentation with various forms of community participation. These can range from community initiatives to citizen councils and other cooperative arrangements where people get together. Community engagement is crucial for creating support for societal transitions and for building trust between citizens and institutions. Importantly, it gives people the opportunity to take part in dialogue with politicians and policymakers and get involved in creating solutions for wicked problems. However, there is still much uncertainty about how communities become empowered to contribute in a way that allows for genuine involvement. In this symposium, we will explore emerging ways for community voices to be heard. We will examine how communities can foster a lively democracy and build societies where everyone can flourish, while also investigating how (local) governments can effectively enable and engage their citizens. What are the most promising models for collective action? And do these citizen initiatives even need government support to succeed?

As part of the program, Professor Tine De Moor (Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University) will give a presentation.

Register here

Organizers: Denise de Ridder, Marleen Gillebaart, Lars Tummers & John de Wit on behalf of the Behavior & Institutions platform at Utrecht University

Location: Centraal Museum (Entrance: Nicolaasdwarsstraat 14, 3512 XH Utrecht)

View the complete program below

BI Symposium 17 juni_ProgramDownload

Online lecture by Dr. Ismael Vaccaro - The Legal Transformations of the Commons in the Catalan Pyrenees
2026-06-23 15:00 - 16:00
Prof. Ismael Vaccaro (CSIC) presents his research about the history of Catalan Commons. The presentation is titled “The Legal Transformations of the Commons in the Catalan Pyrenees: from the Middle Ages until the twenty-first century”.

Register

Ismael Vaccaro will give the lecture from Campus Woudestein in Rotterdam. Would you like to attend the lecture in person and then chat afterwards during drinks at the Paviljoen? Please contact us via collective-action@rsm.nl. There is limited space on location.

About Prof. Ismael VaccaroDr. Ismael Vaccaro holds a BA anthropology (Universidad de Barcelona), a BA in Political Sciences (Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona), a MA in social anthropology and ethnology (Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, Paris), and a MA and a PhD in Environmental Anthropology (University of Washington, Seattle). His research interests include environmental anthropology, political ecology, property theory, landscape analysis, the tensions between the rural and the urban, development and globalization, political and economic anthropology, conservation policies, climate change, post-industrial spaces, anthropology of mining, and urban-rural interactions. He has conducted research in Europe, Mexico, Solomon Islands, and the lakes of Uganda. He was full professor at the McGill University until very recently and he is currently a senior researcher at the Institució Milà i Fontanals of the Spanish National research Council (CSIC) in Barcelona.

AbstractThe Pyrenean landscape is covered by a complex and patchy property mosaic where collective forms of property are still abundant. Many of these patches of land are often referred to as commons by locals, academics, and politicians alike. In truth, however, although most of these mountains were held in common until as late as the mid nineteenth century, several waves of aggressive territorializing policies implemented by the Spanish State, changed the legal status of the vast majority of these lands. Nowadays most of the old commons belong to the state via the municipalities or the regional governments, or are private land belonging to societies of owners. All along this process of ownership modification, in theory, the local communities kept some of their usufruct rights on these lands. Interestingly, where these usufruct rights have been upheld, the socioeconomic organization used by the villages has closely followed the old commons’ structure and rules. The contracts that created the societies of owners, also set up use rules that resonate with the previous communal model. In addition, in the last twenty years, some municipalities have issued regulations recuperating or mimicking some of the manners of the old commons. The goal of this article is to track down the history of the complex legal activity that has transformed the legal standing of the old commons, as well as the survival of some of its characteristics under these new legal skins.

VNG Knowledge Day - with lecture by prof. Tine De Moor
2026-06-26 09:00 - 17:00
Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) organizes a knowledge exchange event. As part of the program, professor Tine De Moor will give a lecture titled: ‘Citizen collectives in action: stronger together with municipalities‘.

Register

About the eventJoin colleagues from municipalities across the country for an inspiring Knowledge Day filled with fresh insights, practical tools, and meaningful connections. As municipalities navigate major societal challenges—from livelihood security, healthy aging, equal opportunities, climate and energy, and safety to digitalization and the future of local governance—this event brings together policy makers, strategists, implementers, and governance professionals to explore solutions that shape tomorrow’s municipal practice. Start the day with engaging masterclasses led by renowned speakers who translate today’s complex issues into actionable local strategies, then dive into an energetic afternoon festival of knowledge featuring talks, podcasts, pitches, lectures, interactive games, and dynamic discussion formats. At the vibrant Knowledge Square, exchange ideas with experts and peers, discover new perspectives, and return to your municipality with valuable inspiration and immediately applicable knowledge.

Find more information about the program here

About the lecture by The MoorIncreasingly, residents are taking the initiative themselves to tackle societal issues – from healthcare and energy to neighborhood livability. But how can municipalities effectively align with this? And how do you ensure a collaboration where responsibility is truly shared? In this lecture, Professor Tine de Moor (Erasmus University Rotterdam) explains how municipalities can support and strengthen citizen collectives without taking over. When do you give space, and when do you intervene? What does this require of policy, organization, and attitude?

Festive Launch of the Essay Collection 'Vuurproef voor democratie'
2026-07-09 16:00 - 18:00
On 9 July, the essay collection Vuurproef voor Democatie will be officially launched in The Hague. The volume brings together 18 essays exploring the climate crisis as a challenge for democracy, the rule of law, and public governance. SEICA research group team members Tine De Moor and Lukas Held co-authored one of the essays.

Their contribution, titled “Bottom-Up Sustainability: Collective Engagement as a Foundation for Societal Transitions,” examines how citizen collectives can contribute to major societal transitions, including the transition to a more sustainable society. The authors argue that the climate itself is not a ‘common‘ according to Elinor Ostrom’s definition. However, citizen collectives can jointly govern shared resources and services such as energy, mobility, and land. It is through these tangible, community-led initiatives that they can make a significant contribution to sustainability and climate change mitigation.

The festive launch of the essay collection will take place on 9 July, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., in The Hague.

Register

VNG Knowledge Day - with lecture by prof. Tine De Moor
2026-10-16 09:00 - 17:00
Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) organizes a knowledge exchange event. As part of the program, professor Tine De Moor will give a lecture titled: ‘Citizen collectives in action: stronger together with municipalities‘.

About the eventJoin colleagues from municipalities across the country for an inspiring Knowledge Day filled with fresh insights, practical tools, and meaningful connections. As municipalities navigate major societal challenges—from livelihood security, healthy aging, equal opportunities, climate and energy, and safety to digitalization and the future of local governance—this event brings together policy makers, strategists, implementers, and governance professionals to explore solutions that shape tomorrow’s municipal practice. Start the day with engaging masterclasses led by renowned speakers who translate today’s complex issues into actionable local strategies, then dive into an energetic afternoon festival of knowledge featuring talks, podcasts, pitches, lectures, interactive games, and dynamic discussion formats. At the vibrant Knowledge Square, exchange ideas with experts and peers, discover new perspectives, and return to your municipality with valuable inspiration and immediately applicable knowledge.

Find more information about the program here

About the lecture by The MoorIncreasingly, residents are taking the initiative themselves to tackle societal issues – from healthcare and energy to neighborhood livability. But how can municipalities effectively align with this? And how do you ensure a collaboration where responsibility is truly shared? In this lecture, Professor Tine de Moor (Erasmus University Rotterdam) explains how municipalities can support and strengthen citizen collectives without taking over. When do you give space, and when do you intervene? What does this require of policy, organization, and attitude?
