[Opinion] Development of Cooperatives through Strengthening and Practicing Identity

Jang Seung-kwon President of the Korean Cooperative Association, Professor at Sungkonghoe University

There are questions posed not only by instructors who teach cooperatives and researchers who study them, but also by people who operate cooperatives, participate as members, or simply want to learn about cooperatives.

What is the identity of a cooperative? Is identity an important factor in the development of cooperatives? Does a strong cooperative identity lead to a more successful cooperative? Has the cooperative identity changed? If so, what has changed and what has remained the same? Is there a unified cooperative identity? Who creates and maintains the cooperative identity, and how?

Discussions related to these questions can be heard at the 33rd World Cooperative Congress (World Congress) hosted by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA). The World Congress will be held simultaneously at the Seoul venue and online from December 1 to 3, 2021. This event gathers many people interested in cooperatives, including cooperative activists, members, managers, researchers, and government officials.

The 2021 Seoul World Congress is the second congress held outside Europe since the 1992 Tokyo World Congress, marking an important milestone for the diversity of the cooperative movement.

ICA is a non-governmental organization representing cooperatives worldwide, established in 1895. The 2021 World Congress also commemorates the 126th anniversary of ICA’s founding and the 26th anniversary of the Cooperative Identity Statement announced in Manchester, UK, in 1995.

This World Congress will present the future direction for the global cooperative movement. It will be an opportunity to reflect on the cooperative identity, including the definition, values, and principles of cooperatives. At the same time, it will serve as a chance for cooperation among Korean cooperatives and solidarity among Korean social economy organizations, promoting exchange and collaboration with the global cooperative movement.

The World Congress is an event organized by ICA members. However, many Korean cooperatives and stakeholders have participated in planning and organizing this time. While ICA member cooperatives lead the event, non-members and citizens can also participate. Therefore, Korean cooperatives, which are non-members, can voice their opinions at this internationally significant and large-scale event. Many discussions will take place in Korea during the World Congress.

We must include our stories in this World Congress, which will be recorded in the history of the global cooperative movement. Important figures from the global cooperative movement will gather at this event. We must show them Korean cooperatives. The World Congress can be a significant turning point for the Korean cooperative movement.

The 33rd World Congress will be held over three days from December 1 to 3, 2021, under the broad theme of “Strengthening Cooperative Identity,” covering various detailed topics. It will explore cooperative identity and demonstrate ways to build a better future. The goal of this World Congress is to strengthen cooperative identity by reviewing cooperative values, acting based on cooperative identity, committing to cooperative principles, and practicing the achievements of such cooperatives.

The World Congress program includes pre-events such as an academic conference and a legal forum, followed by the main congress and exhibitions. The academic conference and legal forum will present over 180 papers submitted from 43 countries on the theme of cooperative identity, divided into 18 sessions.

The World Congress held in Korea will be an opportunity for cooperative members worldwide to reassess, strengthen, and practice cooperative identity. Korean cooperative members should also participate and raise their voices.

Through the World Congress, we must clarify for ourselves what cooperative identity is and why it is important. The theme of the World Congress aligns with the development direction of Korean cooperatives. Cooperatives must have a clear identity and conduct their business according to their values and principles.

However, not all cooperative members share the same understanding of what a cooperative is. A cooperative cannot be simply viewed as a business entity nor can it be classified as a nonprofit organization. Cooperatives have a unique identity. Cooperatives develop when their identity is confirmed, strengthened, practiced, and reflected upon.

The reason cooperatives are needed is to meet the needs of members and not to conflict with the public interest. Cooperatives must cooperate for mutual benefit but also contribute to the local community. While economic participation of members is important, social value must also be created.

We must find, verify, and disseminate how to preserve and develop the complex identity of cooperatives through practice. The development direction and strategies of cooperatives have already been historically verified.

At this World Congress, we will discuss the current and future challenges faced by the world from the perspective of cooperative identity. Through strengthening and practicing cooperative identity, it will become clear that cooperatives are innovative agents solving social problems.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.