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

The Cult of Innovation

Lead article, The Cult of Innovation – Dan Gregory
"Since social innovation appears to transcend ideology, it is seemingly insulated from criticism."

Rural Project – Ben Eagle
"With nearly 20% of us now living outside of towns and cities and ONS figures suggesting that rural populations will increase by 6% by 2025, it’s time to re-evaluate rural life and the way the rural economy works."

Rethinking Education for Co-operation – Cilla Ross
"The Rochdale Pioneers… never underestimated the power of education in developing co-operative skills, character and a new economic and social paradigm."

Digital Employability for the New Economy – Doug Belshaw
"Several years ago, Mozilla… created a new standard for interoperable digital credentials. This metadata standard… allows anyone to issue, exchange, and display credentials for any purpose."

Interview: Brianna Wettlaufer & Nuno Silva of Stocksy United
Interview with Stocksy, the stock photography multistakeholder co-operative.

The William Morris Economy – Simon Parker
"When Clement Attlee’s government constructed the welfare state, some of the earliest critique came from the intellectual Morris-ites… They declared themselves disappointed with a form of state socialism which made working people wealthier, but in their view failed to make society more beautiful and joyful."

Post-Brexit: English Futures – Andy Goldring
"If we look to our friends in Scotland and Wales, we have a huge amount to learn. The Land Reform Act (Scotland) 2016, and the Well-being of Future Generations Act (Wales) 2015, are both inspiring examples of what is possible when devolved regions have the powers to create their own policy."

Q&A: Imandeep Kaur
"When embarking on the founding journey of Impact Hub Birmingham we quickly realised that the theory of change in places like Birmingham needed to expand beyond the startup and social venture meme as a primary actor of change."

The Ethics of Economics – Matthew Wilson
"What we simply call capitalism is in fact far from being a single idea, or even a single collection of ideas. Many of the ideas used within capitalism—such as markets—can and do exist within different economic systems."

Playing for our Lives – Inez Aponte
"Urban explorer Daniel Raven-Ellison walked “the length of Britain and a bit”… he was asked to share some of the things that had stood out during his journey. “There are no children playing in the street,” was his first remark, “except in Newcastle.”

Law Column – Ana Stanic
"The 2015 Elections produced a pro-independence majority in the Catalan parliament for the first time. It has, since then, been repeatedly calling on the Spanish government to allow Catalonia to hold a referendum on independence."

Commons Column – Michel Bauwens
"After historical periods where markets have successfully disembedded from social constraints, they generate a counterforce amongst the people… The Nation thus periodically revolts, forcing the State to re-regulate the market."

Review: Kate Raworth's Doughnut Economics — Anna Laycock
"What does it mean to think like a 21st century economist? For Kate Raworth, the answer is to reject the mindset and metaphors of orthodox economic theory, and instead embrace Doughnut Economics."