Cooperatives, Economic Democratization and Rural Development

Agricultural cooperatives and producer organisations are institutional innovations, which have the potential to reduce poverty and improve food security. This book presents a raft of international case studies, from developing and transition countries, to analyse the internal and external challenges that these complex organisations face and the solutions they have developed.The contributors provide a greater understanding of the transformation of traditional community organisations into modern farmer-owned businesses. They cover issues including; the impact on rural development and inclusiveness, the role of social capital, formal versus informal organisations, democratic participation and member relations, and their role in value chains. Students and scholars will find the book's multidisciplinary approach useful in their research. It will also be of interest to policy makers seeking to understand the wide diversity of organisational forms and functions. NGOs, donors and governments seeking to support rural developments will benefit from the discussions raised in this book.