Book Review #2: Co-operative Principles - Today and Tomorrow

This book, by W. P. Watkins, has been described as a major contribution to the philosophy of Co-operation, and concerns itself with an examination of the principles of Co-operation. The book is all the more interesting for the fact that the statement of Co-operative Principles that the book comprises does not tally with either the internationally agreed values and principles in place at the time of writing (1986), nor of course with those agreed later in 1995.

However, that is not to say that he does not describe essentially the same system of Co-operation as the ICA description. Rewrites of these statements represent changes in emphasis rather than profound schisms with the past, and in the words contained within the book "the more Co-operation changes, the more it must remain the same". In Watkins opinion, the philosophy of Co-operation can be seperated into 7 interdependent "principles", alhtough in the nomenculture of the most recent statement of identity these might be termed values. They are:

• Unity or Association - the Co-operative comes about by the coming-together of people or other entites to provide solutions to common problems.
• Economy - they tend to do so in order to gain an economic advantage.
• Democracy - the Co-operative is run on strictly democratic lines, with one-member, one-vote used in primary societies, and appropriate alternaitve systems in federal structures.
• Equity - the Society and its capital belongs to the members, and any benefit from its operation should be shared fairly amongst members if not used in some other way. Co-operatives also strive for less inequity in the world at large.
• Liberty - the members of Co-operative societies should be members of their own free accord, with no compulsion from government or other agencies.
• Responsibility or Function - the members of the society have a responsibility to themselves and to other members in ensuring the successful running of the society - and the Society should have the function of improving the lives of its members.
• Education - Co-operators place a high premium on two different sorts of education. The first is the education required by its members in order to allow succesful running of the business. The second is in education of the public in the philosophy and advantages of Co-operation.

The book is a fascinating look at the worldwide Co-operative Movement through the eyes of an extremely experienced devotee. It should be read by any Co-operator wishing to more fully understand their Movement. It is available from the Co-op College online bookstore, and as with the first book that I reviewed, any local readers wishing to borrow my copy are welcome to do so.