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Crises require the invention of institutions that make it possible to combine capital accumulation and social progress. Given the values and principles they express, greater development of cooperatives and the social economy and of their integration with the socio-economic system could improve the creativity and long-term prospects of the latter. So why does the social economy not play a more active part in social concertation in Spain or in the Valencia Region of this country? Based on an evolutionist/regulationist theoretical framework, this situation is ascribed both to the participants' lack of support or opposition to the entry of new actors and to the organisational weakness of the cooperative movement itself. However, this paper shows that when social economy organisations take part in the social concert of a geographical area they make a difference, helping to bring about significant achievements in the areas of local development and structural change. This points to future lines of action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The various types of social enterprise include Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISEs), which have to compete in the market from a position of inferiority. This paper first examines different aspects of WISE management, emphasising the use of strategic management tools. After defining the theoretical aspects of WISEs and social management, it continues with an empirical study that focuses on WISEs in the Valencia region of Spain in connection with the main management variables in these enterprises. The results highlight the low levels of professional management skills and strategic analysis tool use. Strategic management therefore needs to be introduced into WISEs, while taking into account their peculiarities in the case of the Valencia region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]