ORIGINS

It is often said that cooperation is strong in practice but weak in theory. Although not quite true,it is a fact that cooperation has been little researched, has weak links with mainstream economicsand, partly for these reasons, the theory and practice remains surprisingly unfamiliar. The intention of this article is to correct the situation by reviewing a) the ideas behind cooperative entrepreneurship and company form, and b) the present role of cooperation in the organisation of economic activities. The main points of departure in a cooperative organisation are that membership is voluntary and open to all and that it produces services in the interests of its members.The cooperative form of company and entrepreneurship is in extensive use throughout the world. Today, cooperation has an important social role to play in the organisation of economic relations. Whereas originally coopera-tives ensured the balanced development of the market economy, in our new globalising world these national, democratically controlled organisations ensure that the economy continues to serve the eve-ryday needs of the ordinary peopl