This article analyzes the concept of social economy, considering it historically as well as its current dynamic. It strives to go beyond terminological confusion about the concept. The principal characteristics and foundations of social economy, its actors and the respective typology are also defined. The fundamental objective of the paper is to investigate the economic-social reality, particularly that of Portugal, in a context of intervention of civil society in the search for solutions to the sharpest social problems. The paper reflects on this dynamic, considering the continuity of the crises of the welfare State and of Governments, above all those most typically integrated to this model. It found a growing difficulty in the maintenance of that model and above all in its financing.
State; market; social economy