BIEN was founded as the Basic Income European Network at the first international conference on basic income in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, in 1986. It understands itself as a platform to facilitate informed discussion about Basic Income but also promotes the idea of a basic income. The network has experienced continuous growth since it was founded 30 years ago. At the 2004 BIEN congress in Barcelona, the network’s name was changed to Basic Income Earth Network to acknowledge the many non-European groups and individuals that had become engaged and affiliated. While BIEN itself does not actively seek to sign up members or form new initiatives, local groups seek to enlarge their membership base and new groups that commit themselves to promoting the idea like to acquire the label “BIEN affiliate” and the (academic) authority it lends to their activities.
Next to BIEN, there are many other individuals and initiatives that seek to promote the Basic Income by other means. To deepen our insight into the spectrum of activities and connections between them, TRANSIT research also highlights the German initiatives Freiheit statt Vollbeschäftigung (Freedom, Not Full Employment), Mein Grundeinkommen (My Basic Income) and a 2009 online petition by Susanne Wiest; the Dutch MIES initiative Ons Basisinkomen (Our Basic Income) and a network of Dutch municipalities interested in experimenting with social benefits; as well as the Swiss Initiative Grundeinkommen.
Relevance for TRANSIT
Discussions around the Basic Income involve a re-framing of the value of (paid) work and social security entitlements, a re-evaluation of equality, justice and community and a supposed re-organisation of people’s work/care/life activities. Just the idea of a Basic Income already challenges and inspires alteration of existing welfare institutions.
Social Innovation Initiatives in the Critical Turning Points-database
BICN - Basic Income Canada Network (Canada)
BIEN/Netzwerk Grundeinkommen (Germany)
BIEN-SUISSE (BIEN-Switzerland)
BIEN/Vereniging Basisinkomen (Netherlands)
BIEN/Mein Grundeinkommen (Germany)
BIEN/Susanne Wiest (Netherlands)
BIEN/Initiative Grundeinkommen (Switzerland)
The Critical Turning Points database for BIEN is being finalized - files will be available soon.
Social Innovation Initiatives studied in-depth
BIEN/Netzwerk Grundeinkommen (Germany)
BIEN/Vereniging Basisinkomen (Netherlands)
FFreiheit statt Vollbeschäftigung (Germany)
BIEN/Mein Grundeinkommen (Germany)
BIEN/Susanne Wiest (Netherlands)
Reports
Backhaus, J. & Pel, B. (2017). WP4 Case Study Report: BIEN and the Basic Income, TRANSIT: EU SSH.2013.3.2-1 Grant agreement no. 613169.
Backhaus, J. and Pel, B. (2016) Transformative social innovation : BIEN and Basic Income : a summary of the case study report on BIEN and Basic Income. TRANSIT: EU SSH.2013.3.2-1 Grant agreement no: 613169.
Research Coordination: ICIS – Julia Backhaus; ULB – Bonno Pel
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