Cooperatives and Productive Internationalization: A New Challenge

Abstract

This article discusses recent trends in cooperativism, which has expanded its production in foreign markets through productive internationalization, an effective process in terms of increasing economic benefits, but based on massive use of wage labour, often in precarious conditions. Setting out from the Italian experience, it highlights the process by which cooperatives are moving away from the movement's original principles to develop into companies operating according to the ideals of a traditional capitalist company. The only difference from the latter is that profits are divided among a small number of workers who are also members, as already observed in the Mondragón Cooperative Complex in Spain. The article further analyses the trade union's position in this process, concluding that the internationalization of cooperatives represents a more general trend, the culmination of a deep process of cooperative degeneration.

Associational Strategies for European SMEs’ Internationalization: Introducing the Meta-Organization as a Multi-Level Unit of Analysis

“…Although research on the international activity of meta-organizations is still rather scarce, the extant literature contains several interesting examples of European associations and cooperatives that developed an international or even a global business presence, such as: the Austrian, Dutch, French and German cooperative banks (Howarth & Quaglia, 2016), the Mondragon Cooperative Complex founded in the Basque region of Spain (Errasti et al, 2003), the Italian productive cooperatives (Leite & Duaibs, 2017), cooperatives from the dairy and meat industry from Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands (Theuvsen & Ebneth, 2005), or the Portuguese industrial business associations (Costa et al, 2017). Future research should further develop this topic, providing a more detailed analysis of the benefits and challenges offered by meta-organizations as an internationalization platform for European SMEs from various countries and different economic sectors, as well as a deeper insight into the development and coordination of international operations.…”

Os condicionantes institucionais e sociais do recrutamento da elite política do cooperativismo agroindustrial

“…Considerando os estudos publicados no Brasil, inclusive muitos também tendo como objeto de pesquisa as cooperativas agroindustriais, podemos mencionar os trabalhosde Ilha et al (2018),Binotto et al (2013),Ensslin et al (2014),Leite & Duaibs (2017),Costa et al (2012aCosta et al ( , 2012b e Crúzio (1999).3Simioni et al (2009) chamam a atenção para a natureza política dos dirigentes de cooperativas, o que implica a importância das relações de lealdade entre estes e os cooperados Rodrigues & Guilhoto (2004). também destacam o papel das grandes cooperativas nas políticas fiscal e de desenvolvimento do Paraná.…”