The summer issue showcases the variety of co-operative research being undertaken.
The issue begins with an article by Mercè Sala-Ríos, Mariona Farré-Perdiguer, and Teresa Torres-Solé that examines the social, political, and economic factors that could influence a person’s motivation to join a co-operative. Their quantitative study is novel in that it is a macro-level analysis, based on a sample of 25 European countries and studying four main factors: citizens’ sense of community; the quality of a country’s democracy; citizens’ trust in government; and a country’s economic performance.
The second paper by Linda Bennison, Alexandra K. Williamson, and Ellie (Larelle) Chapple reports on accountability among farmers who are members of an Australian agricultural marketing, or distributing, co-operative. Food security within the global supply chain is a pressing issue and the case study asked fruit farmers about their accountability for fresh produce.
From Australian marketing co-operatives and fruit producers, we move to housing co-operatives. Peter Alexander Carl Pfatteicher, Olive McCarthy, and Carol Power present a history of housing co-operatives in Germany, spanning 160 years of development. The paper presents this history in five phases: the rise of housing co-operatives (1803-1914); World War I and the Weimar Republic (1914-1933); the decline of co-operative values and World War II (1933-1945); a comparison of housing co-operatives in East and West Germany (1945-1990); and post-1990 developments since unification.
Our last special issue, Robert Owen and co-operation was a marvellous collection of articles and essays that showcased the global reach, diversity, and continued relevance of Owen’s work. It was guest edited by Professor Chris Williams, who brought together an impressive group of scholars from around the world. The Editorial Team were shocked and deeply saddened to learn of his untimely death. Chris brought vast knowledge, skill, friendship, and co-operative spirit to the special issue. He was a pleasure to work with. Chris was also a valued member of the Journal’s Editorial Advisory Board. In “A memory of Chris Williams”, Nick Matthews pays tribute to Chris, fondly recalling the learned, funny, and unexpected turns that their conversations would take.
The issue concludes with two book reviews. The first is Piero Ammirato’s Cooperative enterprises which is reviewed by Amanda Benson. The second review, by Alex Bird, is of Cooperatives at work which is written by George Cheney, Matt Noyes, Emi Do, Marcelo Vieta, Joseba Azkarraga, and Charlie Michel.
