History of Australian Co-operatives 1827-2023 / Greg Patmore, Nikola Balnave, Olivera Marjanovic.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Patmore, Greg, author.

Balnave, Nikola, author.

Marjanovic, Olivera, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Cooperative societies--Austrlia--History--19th century.

Cooperative societies.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xvi, 255 pages) : illustrations

Place of Publication:

London : Routledge Ltd, 2024.

Summary:

Co-operatives provide a different approach to organising business through their ideals of member ownership and democratic practice. Every co-operative member has an equal vote regardless of his or her own personal capital investment. They take a variety of different forms including consumer co-operatives, agricultural co-operatives, worker co-operatives and financial co-operatives. Patmore, Balnave and Marjanovic provide a perspective on Australian co-operative development within a conceptual framework and international context since the 1820s by exploring the economic, political and social factors that explain their varying fortunes. Drawing upon the Visual Historical Atlas of Australian Co-operatives, a significant database of Australian co-operatives, and a variety of historical sources, this book provides a detailed historical analysis of their development, from their inception in Australia to today. Australian co-operatives were heavily dependent on state sympathy for their growth and vulnerable to ideas that challenged collective organisation such as neo-liberalism. Despite these challenges, the co-operative business model has persisted and since 2009, there has been resurgence of interest and organisation that may provide a platform for future growth. A useful resource for practitioners, students, educators, policy makers and researchers that highlights a significant alternative business model to the Investor-Owned Business and state enterprise.

Contents:

1. What is a Co-operative? 2. An International Co-operative Movement 3. An Australian Overview - Insights from the Visual Historical Atlas of Australian Co-operatives 4. The Early Years until 1860 5. The Long Boom 1860-1890 6. The 1890s Depression and its Aftermath 1890-1914 7. Wars and Depression 1914-1945 8. Post-War Prosperity 1945-1975 9. The Challenges of Neo-liberalism 1975-2009 10. A Revival? 2009-2023 11. Conclusion.

Notes:

CC BY-NC-ND

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