Abstract
The article inquires into the role of the institutional context in explaining the governance of community co-operatives. These
organizations do not solely focus on a member’s advantage but act on behalf of some collective identity. To enhance our understanding
of the nature of co-operative governance on the neighborhood level, we draw on theoretical concepts that are context-sensitive,
helping us to catch the institutional conditions in a specific place which are enabling individuals and groups to act and
organize collectively. Thus, we enrich the abstract concept of governance put forward by New Institutional Economics. Based
on a systematic analysis of case studies, the paper shows that the governance of community co-operatives is based on place-bound
values. However, the encounter of divergent imaginations of the neighborhood results in different co-operative practices:
e.g., either a government-directed practice to “discipline” the community or a community-initiated practice of self-organization.
organizations do not solely focus on a member’s advantage but act on behalf of some collective identity. To enhance our understanding
of the nature of co-operative governance on the neighborhood level, we draw on theoretical concepts that are context-sensitive,
helping us to catch the institutional conditions in a specific place which are enabling individuals and groups to act and
organize collectively. Thus, we enrich the abstract concept of governance put forward by New Institutional Economics. Based
on a systematic analysis of case studies, the paper shows that the governance of community co-operatives is based on place-bound
values. However, the encounter of divergent imaginations of the neighborhood results in different co-operative practices:
e.g., either a government-directed practice to “discipline” the community or a community-initiated practice of self-organization.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-25
- DOI 10.1007/s11266-011-9210-8
- Authors
- Richard Lang, RiCC – Research Institute for Co-operation and Co-operatives, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Augasse 2-6, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Dietmar Roessl, RiCC – Research Institute for Co-operation and Co-operatives, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Augasse 2-6, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Journal Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations
- Online ISSN 1573-7888
- Print ISSN 0957-8765