PANEL 15: Cooperativism: beyond an economic model

Cooperativism arose from the desire to combat the social and economic inequalities to which working class families were subjected. The objective was to transform the system of production, distribution and consumption from the bottom up using new approaches and collective economic practices. Cooperatives today prioritize the common good over profi t and individual interests, while seeking to turn individualistic and competitive forces into collective dynamics. The lessons of 19th and early 20th century cooperativism may therefore help to create a new model of society. Despite often being ignored or undervalued in historical narratives, the cooperative movement is part of the Catalan collective imagination. We invite papers that seek to make up for this defi cit and contest policies that downplay the values and morals of working people, values and morals that are enshrined in the movement.