Professor Johnston Birchall Memorial Lecture 2022
The origin of co-operation - David Rodgers
In this Johnston Birchall memorial lecture, delivered as part of Co-op Fortnight, David explored the origin of humanity’s capacity for co-operation and conflict and why we must foster and develop the former to prevent the latter. Drawing on Professor Birchall’s works including ‘Co-op the People’s Business’ and ‘Resilience of the Cooperative Business Model in times of crisis’, the lecture will set out why co-operatives are necessary for economic stability and addressing the growth of inequality.
David Rodgers is the former Chief Executive of CDS Co-operatives, past president of Co-operative Housing International, and Editor of the International Co-operative Alliance guidance notes on Co-operative Principles. David qualified as a science teacher and has an enduring interest in the evolution of humanity’s capacity for co-operation and conflict and why co-operatives are vital to the wellbeing and survival of our species.
The origin of co-operation - lecture notes
Johnston Birchall had a long association with UKSCS as a board member, vice-chair and secretary, then as editor of the Journal for five years before becoming part of the editorial advisory board. During that time, he left a legacy of research papers, policy documents, articles, and commentaries on public policy, co-operatives and mutuals locally, nationally, and internationally.
A year after his death, a special issue of the the Journal commemoratedand celebrates Johnston Birchall’s huge contribution to both UKSCS and the co-operative movement.
Journal of Co-operative Studies, 55(1) - Johnston Birchall - An appreciation
