March 2001

Views expressed are those of the authors, not necessarily of the AFSC.

A Cooperative Movement for Change

Arthur Gladstone is a long-time activist (31 Fairmount Ave., Somerville Ma 02144; 617/628-8089)

The recent election has again shown the difficulty of working for social change through electoral politics alone. We've been strongly reminded of the influence of powerful interests with huge sums of money, the disillusion and apathy of many who don't vote, and the bias of some local election officials and procedures.

Protest activities are only partially effective also. They can call attention to abuses and the need for change. Sometimes blatant abuses can be reduced or stopped. But protest doesn't do much to change attitudes or create alternative institutions.

We have many serious problems, such as poverty, ecological devastation, and the growing control of our lives and government by big corporations. Dealing effectively with these problems will require basic changes in our social institutions and practices. A broad cooperative movement including many forms of cooperative organization could make a substantial contribution. Co-ops are locally based, democratically controlled by their members, responsive to the concerns of neighborhoods and communities, and can be very socially and ecologically responsible if their members want them to.

This is hardly a new idea; many others have suggested it at various times. A recent presentation is in Ray Morrison's book, Ecological Democracy (South End Press, 1995). Citing models such as Co-op Atlantic (Canada), Mondragon (Spain), and Seikatsu (Japan), he is enthusiastic about the potential of co-ops for real participatory democracy, ecological responsibility, and counteracting globalization.

In the Boston area we have several kinds of cooperative organizations: consumer co-ops, work collectives, co-op houses, co-op apartments, co-housing communities, credit unions. However, they tend to operate fairly independently, rather than working together as a movement for social change.

Collaboration among them could have practical advantages as well as making them more effective as change agents. A small example of this: During the past year a group of us organized a network of Boston area co-op houses. We have been discussing common problems, exchanging information, and are forming an umbrella organization to buy and own houses for co-op groups. This will take some properties out of the speculative real estate market, help to keep them affordable, and provide more secure occupancy for co-op groups.

Some of the ways in which various kinds of co-ops could collaborate are:

• Publicizing and promoting one another's activities
• Sharing experience and advice
• Sharing facilities and operations (office space and equipment, newsletter publication, etc.)
• Promoting the formation of new co-ops, giving advice and practical help
• Discussing social and ecological concerns and practical ways to deal with them.

An additional concern, which co-ops have rarely addressed so far, is the need to change personal attitudes and habits which are fostered by our present society and interfere with change. Competitive individualism often leads to conflict and power struggles, disrupting and destroying relationships, groups, and organizations. Habits of spectatorship rather than participation also weaken groups, communities, and even personal relationships. Helpful tools for change are support groups, consciousness raising groups, and workshops on community building, conflict resolution, consensus process, and the like.

I'd be glad to explore this further with anyone interested.

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