History of cooperatives

Summary

This video script delves into the history of cooperatives, from ancient human groupings to the industrial revolution's impact on workers' livelihoods. It highlights the 19th-century emergence of the cooperative movement in Britain, spurred by economic transformations. The script details the establishment of the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society in 1844, which laid the foundation for modern cooperatives with the Rochdale Principles. It also touches on the global spread of cooperatives, their various forms, and their significance in the Philippines, emphasizing the movement's transformative role in social and economic development.

Takeaways

• 🏘️ The history of cooperatives dates back to ancient times with human groupings found in natural environments like caves, valleys, rivers, lakes, and seas.
• 🌾 During medieval times, agricultural production led to the creation of markets, where surplus products and raw materials were sold, indicating the early stages of trade and commerce.
• 🔗 The Greeks in 300 BC formed associations known as 'synoikismos', an early form of organized trade in Europe.
• 🛍️ Between the 17th and 15th centuries, merchant guilds emerged to protect their social and economic interests and conducted long-distance business.
• 🏭 The Industrial Revolution in the 18th century in England significantly changed social and economic life, leading to the obsolescence of traditional industries due to new machinery and technology.
• 🔄 The cooperative movement began in Britain in the 19th century as a response to the Industrial Revolution and its impact on workers' livelihoods.
• 📦 The Rochdale Pioneers Society, established in 1844, is considered the first modern cooperative business, selling basic items and emphasizing high-quality, unadulterated goods.
• 📜 The Rochdale Principles, formulated in 1844, laid the foundation for the modern cooperative movement, emphasizing democratic control, open membership, and limited interest on capital, among other principles.
• 🌍 Today, cooperatives have a global reach, with around 800 million members and employing approximately 100 million people worldwide.
• 🏢 Cooperative banks or credit unions, which originated in Germany in the mid-19th century, have evolved to become integral parts of the financial sector.
• 📚 Beatrice Webb's 1891 publication, 'The Cooperative Movement in Great Britain', provided significant insights into the cooperative movement's development and principles.

Q & A

What evidence of early human groupings were discovered in ancient times?

Evidence of human groupings in ancient times were discovered in caves, valleys, rivers, lakes, and seas.

How did the agricultural production during medieval times influence the creation of markets?

Agricultural production stimulated the creation of markets where surplus products and raw materials were sold, indicating a shift from producing only for consumption to producing more for trade and commerce.

What was the significance of the 'ironoy' associations formed by the Greeks around 300 BC?

The 'ironoy' associations were significant as they were among the earliest known forms of organized cooperatives in Europe.

What role did merchant guilds play in the economic activities between the 17th and 15th centuries?

Merchant guilds protected the social and economic gains of their members and conducted business over long distances, performing all operations in merchandising goods, transporting, and retailing.

How did the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century impact the livelihoods of traditional workers?

The introduction of machines in factories rendered traditional industries unprofitable and caused misfortunes for many workers who depended on manual labor, such as weaving.

What was the Shore Porters Society and when was it established?

The Shore Porters Society claims to be one of the world's first cooperatives, established in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1498.

What were the original items for sale when the Rochdale Pioneers opened their store in 1844?

The original items for sale were flour, oatmeal, sugar, and butter.

What are the Rochdale Principles and how many were there originally?

The Rochdale Principles were a set of guidelines for cooperative organizations, originally consisting of six principles, which included democratic control, open membership, limited interest on capital, and others.

Who is credited with inspiring the Rochdale Pioneers and what were their beliefs?

Robert Owen is credited with inspiring the Rochdale Pioneers. He believed in creating a good environment for workers with access to education for themselves and their children.

What was the impact of the cooperative movement on the worldwide economy?

The cooperative movement has a significant global impact, with around 800 million people as members of cooperatives and an estimated 100 million people employed by them.

How did the cooperative movement begin in the Philippines and what was its initial focus?

The cooperative movement in the Philippines began with the influence of Filipinos who had traveled to Europe and were impressed by the success of the cooperative movement there. The initial focus was on rural credit associations to support farmers.