A History of Australian Co-operatives 1827–2023

Co-operatives are a different approach to organizing business, with member ownership and democratic practice. This book provides a historical analysis of Australian co-operative development, from their inception to today, and explores the economic, political, and social factors that explain their varying fortunes. Despite challenges, the co-operative business model has persisted and there has been a resurgence of interest since 2009.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 13 February 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Co-operatives offer a distinctive approach to organizing businesses, driven by their core principles of member ownership and democratic practices. Within these cooperative structures, every member holds an equal voting power, irrespective of their individual capital investment. These cooperative entities take various forms, including consumer cooperatives, agricultural cooperatives, worker cooperatives, and financial cooperatives.

Patmore, Balnave, and Marjanovic provide a comprehensive perspective on the development of Australian co-operatives since the 1820s, examining the economic, political, and social factors that have shaped their varying fortunes. Drawing upon the extensive Visual Historical Atlas of Australian Co-operatives, a robust database of Australian cooperatives, and a diverse range of historical sources, this book offers a detailed historical analysis of their growth, spanning from their inception in Australia to the present day.

Australian co-operatives relied heavily on state support for their expansion and were vulnerable to ideas that challenged collective organization, such as Neo-liberalism. Despite these challenges, the co-operative business model has endured and has experienced a resurgence of interest and organization since 2009, offering potential for future growth.

This book serves as a valuable resource for practitioners, students, educators, policy makers, and researchers, highlighting a significant alternative business model to the Investor-Owned Business and state enterprise. It sheds light on the historical trajectory, challenges, and opportunities of Australian co-operatives, contributing to a deeper understanding of cooperative economics and their potential for sustainable development in the contemporary world.

Weight: 662g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032320373