Journal of Co-operative Studies Vol 35 No 1

Editorial: Co-operative Commission report, 2001

James Bell, pp. 5-6

'What is the vision of the co-operative movement as we enter the new century - in terms of commercial objectives and social goals?' This was the question asked by the Co-operative Commission at the start of its review of the co-operative sectors in the UK. This special issue looks at some of the Commission's recommendations in the 2001 report with a rnage of peer review and short papers. On a separate but related these, the final short paper provides an insight into the UK Co-operative Group's 'responsible retailing' initiative.

Peer reviewed articles

Being the best? Co-operative retailing and corporate competitors

Leigh Sparks, pp. 7-26

Between 1958 and 2001 lie forty plus years of decline in co-operative retailing. The 2001 Co-operative Commission takes for granted that there is an advantage to being a co-operative and that consumers (shoppers) can be made to realise benefits of membership. This paper asks what it will take for co-operatives to 'Be the Best' given that in the retail field they compete with some of the leading retailers in the world. It concludes that the co-operative advantage has to be earned not assumed and that much business pain will have to be endured to earn such standing.

Short papers

Education and adaptability in securing co-operative success

Richard Bickle, pp. 27-43

This article seeks to examine what 'education' is in the context of the history of the Co-operative Movement, how it has contributed to the Movement's successes and failures, and how their relationship can be understood.

Can the Co-operative Commission do the trick?

Joshua Bamfield, pp. 44-51

In this short paper, the author suggests that the 2001 Co-operative Commission report brings a new realism to the discussion of the way forward for co-operative societies, not just in its proposals but in the way it directs specific attention to failures to implement  findings from previous committees' reviews.

USDAW’s view on the co-operative movement after the Commission report

Bill Connor, pp. 52-57

This short paper emphasises the co-operative movement's need to assess what measures can be taken to extend democracy to empower all stakeholders, to include not only consumers and members but also employees. The Commission's report recommends employees be recognised as important stakeholders to be encouraged to particpate actively in socities' internal demoncratic processes. The paper stresses the need to see progress in the implementation of this key recommendation.

Responsible retailing in practice

Wendy Wrigley, pp. 58-69

In this short paper, the author sets out to explaim why the Co-operative group's approach to responsible retailing is different from other UK supermarket retailers'