Article: The story so far: people's instinct to co-operate rather than compete has formed human experience everywhere in the world--but it keeps taking different shapes. Here the NI outlines the growth of the international co-operative movement.(History)

First signs

There is evidence of co-operative tenant farming in Babylon and of burial benefit societies in Greece as early as 3,000 BC. Indigenous cultures in Africa. Asia and Latin America often placed great value on co-operative social structures. Gruyere cheesemakers formed a co-op at Desservilliers, Switzerland, in 1228. Various forms of mutual aid 'guilds' and 'leagues' were common in medieval Europe. 'Friendly societies' were set up to provide help in case of sickness. By 1600 communal granaries--shaso--were well-established in Japan.

Pioneers

With the growth of industrial capitalism, and its ethos of ruthless competition, a co-operative ...

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