1. BY IAN MACPHERSON CO-DIRECTOR THE NATIONAL HUB CANADIAN SOCIAL ECONOMY RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA CLUNY1@UVIC.CA Towards an International People-Centred Economy: Co-operative Perspectives 1

2. The Challenges 2 Limited research into, and focussed thought on, the theme of co-operatives and internationalisation Work in the 1950s Johnston Birchall, The International Co-operative Movement (Manchester: University of Manchester, 1995) The complexities of co-operative history The institutional challenges Significance for Co-operative Studies

3. The Inheritance 3 Human beings—competitive or co-operative? The Enlightenment and internationalism Robert Owen and the Association of all Classes of all Nations (1835) The internationalism of national movements The tensions of type and nationality The formation of the International Co-operative Alliance (1895)

4. The Limitations of the Twentieth Century 4 National priorities The complexities of imperialisms The problems of casual friends The Soviet issue Contested terrains War and Peace The complexities of Independence movements The “victory” of the market

5. The International Movement Today 5 1,000,000,000 members Serve 3 billion people (UN) 300+ kinds of co-ops Top 300 employ 20% more than multi-nationals Some setbacks but generally very positive situations around the world Increasing importance in Global South Importance in financial industries, food and energy production, social services,

6. The Possibilities of the 21 st Century 6 Market crises Environmental issues Community and youth concerns Revitalisation of some larger co-ops Growth of international co-ops: insurance, Mondragon, European Common Market New co-ops: Fair Trade, organic foods, social co-ops, energy co-ops, etc. 2012: UN Year of Co-operatives

7. Underlying Challenges 7 Knowledge: studied, understood and results systematically compiled and made readily available Limited impact in the public square Threats of demutualisation Prevailing ideologies Relationship with like organisations, especially in the Social Economy but also in government relations and with private sector