STIR is a quarterly magazine that promotes new economic alternatives, exploring where the social economy, the commons and civic society come together. We feature original illustrations, long-form interviews, and in-depth articles that move beyond traditional political commentary to explore the inspiring and viable alternatives that present a serious challenge to the current political crisis.

Latest issue

Big Ideas: Universal Social Economic Theory — Dan Gregory



“Whatever happened to the big ideas? Surely now, when the world burns and inequality tears at the ties that bind us, we need new big ideas?”



Going Upstream: What is the Future Role of Local Government? — Jenni Lloyd



“The work of local government is fundamentally important. Councils are the primary provider of numerous essential services, which make people’s lives liveable on a day-to-day basis.”



Q&A: Vidhya Alakeson — Power to Change



“Community organisations have stepped forward where the state has stepped back over the last decade...But we shouldn’t misunderstand this: communities are not just filling in; they are delivering something different and of value.”



Secret Community Leader



“I have spent several decades rejecting the idea of being a leader, not because I have a blind spot about the role I have assumed in groups, communities, organisations, and even friendship groups, but because I have had an unconventional and nomadic lifestyle.”



From What is to What If? Unleashing the Power of Imagination — Rob Hopkins



“We are relentlessly bombarded with information, all vying for our attention, to the extent that many people fight a daily battle with distraction.”



BeyondHere Fellowship — Stephanie Gamauf



“We launched our first application process in July 2019 for a fellowship exploring the role of wellbeing and mental health in community leaders within a newly emerging business sector.”



Right of Reply — Doubling the Size of the Co-operative Economy



Andrew Pendleton, New Economics Foundation



“While we struggle to find proposals with which we disagree, where we do take issue is with the juxtaposition of a national policy framework versus a local economy basis for achieving our shared ambition of more co-operatives.”



Les Huckfield, Sheffield Co-operative Development Group



“Too many policies from NEF and the Democracy Collaborative seem to envisage co-operatives working within existing economic structures, rather than providing a basis for an entirely different and alternative local economy.”



The Future of Co-op Development: Building on our Legacy — James de le Vingne



“How can we build on the know how and capacity of the existing practitioner network to create a diverse and inclusive ecosystem and what roles can those with a co-operative development agenda play?”



Feature: Post-election Reflection from Democracy Collaborative’s Sarah McKinley, Shared Asset’s Kate Swade, Redbridge Council’s Simon Parker, and Co-operative UK’s James Wright.



Philosophy Series: The Ignorant Schoolmaster — Jacques Ranciere



“He expected horrendous barbarisms, or maybe a complete inability to perform. How could these young people, deprived of explanation, understand and resolve the difficulties of a language entirely new to them?”



Interview with — P2P Foundation’s Michel Bauwens