The Cooperative Movement: Globalization from Below

by Richard C Williams, David Crowther

Overview

Richard Williams surveys the history of the cooperative movement from its origins in the 18th century and deals with the theory of cooperation, as contrasted with the 'Standard Economic Model', based on competition. The book contains the results of field studies of a number of successful cooperatives both in the developed and developing world. It includes insights from personal interviews of cooperative members and concludes by considering the successes and challenges of the cooperative movement as an alternative to the global neo-colonialism and imperialism that now characterizes free-market capitalist approaches to globalization. The book considers democratic and local control of essential economic activities such as the production, distribution, and retailing of goods and services. It suggests that cooperative approaches to these economic activities are already reducing poverty and resulting in equitable distributions of wealth and income without plundering the resources of developing countries.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781409462941
Publisher:	Ashgate Publishing Ltd
Publication date:	10/01/2012
Series:	Corporate Social Responsibility Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Richard C. Williams is from the School of Professional Studies, Regis University, USA.

Table of Contents

Contents: Preface, George Cheney; Introduction: Part I History and Theory of Cooperation: History and theory of the cooperative movement; Comparing cooperation, competition, and individual effort; The standard economic model and globalization. Part II Cooperative Case Studies: Cooperation and microfinance in Southeast Asia and Oceania; The cooperative movement in India; Mondragón: the Basque cooperative experience; Cooperatives in Latin America; Puerto Rico's cooperative effort. Part III Analysis and Implications for the Future: What makes a cooperative work?; The blueprint: globalization from below; Appendices; Index.