Powell, Owen ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6229-9912 (2025) Navigating the ‘dual nature of cooperatives’: Insights from the CCIN Co-operative Development Toolkit Case Studies 2024. In: ICA CCR Europe 2025, 12-13 June 2025, Helsinki.

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Abstract

The CCIN Cooperative Development Toolkit Case Studies 2024 (Powell, 2024) were produced on behalf of the UK’s Co-operative Councils’ Innovation Network as part of their new Councils Cooperative Development Toolkit (CCIN, 2024). This paper marks a first step toward conceptually framing and engaging with the data and insights generated through the development of the case studies.

The set included 18 diverse cooperatives across sectors, including technology, renewable energy, healthcare, food production, and community services. These case studies highlight cooperatives' innovative approaches, challenges, and successes in delivering social, economic, and environmental benefits to their communities. The case studies underscored the importance of cooperatives in fostering community engagement, promoting sustainable practices, and addressing local needs through collaborative and democratic models.

This research aims to explore the dual nature of cooperatives, focusing on how they balance their business objectives with the needs of their member communities. The research questions are:
1. How does the inherent tension between cooperatives’ business and member community roles manifest?
2. What strategies do cooperatives employ to maintain their cooperative identity while achieving economic sustainability?
3. What can be done to support cooperatives to effectively navigate their dual nature?

The research will be grounded in the conceptual framework of dual nature, as articulated by Draheim (1955) and cooperative identity, further developed by Novkovic, Puusa, and Miner (2022). This framework posits that cooperatives inherently embody a dual nature, functioning both as business enterprises and as member associations.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Status:	Published
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HM Sociology H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races J Political Science > JS Local government Municipal government
School/Department:	York Business School
URI:	https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/12425

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