I have discussed a new vision for a national localised economy. It would run alongside the neo-liberal economy. It needs to be rebuilt following the rise of neo-liberalism in the 1980s. Today I shall describe three qualities I see in the retail co-operative movement that I believe led to its successes. These are just as applicable to localised economies today as they were in nineteenth century.
Democracy
The retail co-operative movement, in common with all types of co-operation, thrives when its members share decision making. The UK retail co-operatives have struggled with this concept in recent years because they have become large remote institutions.
The early co-ops were successful because their members were enthusiastic and could see the impact of their decisions first hand. They learned from their own and others successes and failures.
Many small retail co-operatives created the massive institutions we see today, by working together to create networks for wholesale (for example) to serve their interests. They were pioneers and most of the large retail empires we see today are copying the old co-operatives. Contrary to political rhetoric, it is democratic institutions that find creative approaches and not top-down experts.
Education
It wasn’t the dividend that kept them going, it was their vision. The first retail co-op at Toad Lane in Rochdale had a library and meeting room above the shop from day one. Education of the membership was central to what they were doing. They learned not only the practicalities of setting up and running a co-op but also how mutual principles can transform society for the better.
Perhaps these days people are less likely to voluntarily go to regular meetings for education but maybe online education can to some degree replace those meetings.
Quality
The Rochdale Pioneers founded retail co-ops to tackle food adulteration. They were able to guarantee the quality of their products to their members. Where people know one another and work together they are in a better place to establish their quality standards.
The retail co-operative movement was the first movement of active consumers. They were not just consumers but actually members, a part of the movement. For all the talk of the consumer economy, we have lost sight of what it means to be an active participant in the economy.
The local economy is an opportunity for everyone to take responsibility for the environment and the shape of society and not to leave it in the hands of government or the corporations.