This textbook is a revised second edition of a "classic" on co-operative law, which has been translated into more than 20 languages. The book integrates an analysis of the 1995 Statement of the Co-operative Identity of the International Co-operative Alliance and the impact of political, economic, and social changes over the past 40 years. The original pattern of the book remains unchanged: Two questions are answered for each of the identified principles: What is the meaning of this co-operative principle? How is this principle translated into co-operative legislation? In this newest edition,...

This updated edition on co-operative law shows how political change and several new trends have affected co-operative legislation. These trends include: economisation and approximation of co-operative law to company law; development of uniform legal designs for special matters like bookkeeping, audit, and merger across legal patterns and national boundaries; the revised co-operative principles of the International Co-operative Alliance; the growing difference between small and large co-operatives; and heterogeneous membership and extended solidarity. (Series: Economy: Research and Science /...

In times of globalisation, locally rooted co-operatives become more important. With transparent structures, member-support, and the mandate of member-promotion, they can build on the trust of their members through self-elected leadership and in the system. Being part of an integrated co-operative system, co-operatives can combine advantages of closeness to members with benefits of large scale enterprises. The present book combines the experience of three specialists from the fields of economic and agrarian policy, law of organisations, and business administration, all having thorough...