opinion
This week, National Co-op Week, is always a convenient time to reflect on the state of the co-operative movement. But there are special reasons to give extra attention to the subject this year.
To start with, 1995 is the 100th anniversary of the International Co-operative Alliance, which has just gone through a lengthy process of updating its statement of universal co-operative principles.
Co-operatives around the world are looking at new forms of organization, new ways to obtain equity capital, and new strategic alliances to help them serve their members best in an increasingly complex “global village.”
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It is a time of change, uncertainty – and often dissent.
In Ontario, many co-ops have merged with a giant U.S. co-op, while on the Prairies the pools are, so far at least, taking different approaches to the issue of outside investment.
In this age of strategic global alliances, many co-ops are forming joint ventures with standard corporations. The idea of international “co-operation among co-operatives” can become hard to realize when co-ops are linked to competing multinational corporations.
In the new generation of co-op members, many younger consumers and producers are questioning the value of doing business with co-operatives. After all, they ask, isn’t it good business sense to shop around for the best deal?
And besides, they say, co-ops are old-fashioned, relying on a century-old philosophy. The formal co-op principles set out in 1895, however, are only a fraction of the age of the principles set out in the Bible. Old does not mean obsolete.
One of the basic co-op principles is that people can achieve more when they work together instead of competing at each other’s expense. That makes business sense – so much so that some profit-minded corporations go too far in working together.
Another basic co-op principle is that the organization is democratically controlled by the people it serves. A co-op serving farmers should be controlled by farmers, one way or another.
That not only makes business sense, giving co-ops an advantage in relating to their members’ needs, but it brings into play other key elements of a co-operative: social conscience and a broad, long-term view of social needs.
Producers and consumers alike have more than a narrow interest in their pocketbooks.
They want a decent long-term environment for their families and their communities. Through the democratic member-based structure of co-operatives, they can help achieve that, without ignoring business realities.
Co-operation is as valid today as ever.
