NOVEMBER 2018

CANADA
CASC call for research papers on ‘co-operative strength in diversity’
The Canadian Association for Studies
in Co-operation (CASC) is putting
together a special issue of the Review
of International Co-operation – and is
inviting submissions on the theme of
co-operative strength in diversity: voices,
governance, and engagement.
CASC – a network that promotes
research on co-operatives in Canada and
facilitates connections internationally
– wants papers from scholars, students,
researchers, and practitioners.
The edition of the review – a publication
of the International Co-operative
Alliance – will reflect on the interplay of
diversity, inclusion and social justice with
co-operative enterprises in Canada
and beyond.
“Research has shown that this diversity
of voices, backgrounds, and perspectives
comes with challenges, but can also be
a significant strength for co-operatives,”
said Derya Tarhan from CASC’s board
of directors.
“This co-operative advantage can be
maximised in cases where governance
structures enable inclusive and
meaningful engagement from members.”
Derya will be one of the guest editors,
alongside Fiona Duguid, Sara Elder,
Isobel Findlay and Judith Harris. They
are looking for papers on a number
of broad themes:
• Co-operatives and social
inclusion/justice
• Co-operatives and indigenous
communities
• Co-operative governance and member
engagement
• Co-operatives and environmental
sustainability
• Co-operatives and the Sustainable
Development Goals
• The political economy
of co-operatives
• Co-operative media and publishing
• Building a co-operative movement:
Local to global
• Submissions on other topics involving
co-operatives and co-operation are
also welcome.
Papers are subject to peer review,
should follow the APA style guide and
be no more than 8,000 words. The
deadline for submissions is 1 December
2018 and papers can be submitted using
an online link. For enquiries, contact
casc.acec@usask.ca.
NEW ZEALAND
Co-op NZ chief urges co-op solutions to global problems
A sustainable co-op business model can
replace the corporate capitalism that has
“devastated parts of the planet”, says the
head of Cooperative Business NZ.
Craig Presland, chief executive of the
apex organisation for New Zealand’s coops,
stated that “corporate capitalism
is committed to the relentless pursuit of
growth, even if it ravages the planet and
threatens human health”.
He added: “The world urgently needs
forms of social re-organisation that
prioritise caring for the environment
and putting people at the centre of
the economy. We need to build a new
system: one that will balance economic
growth with sustainability and human
flourishing. Here co-operatives can, and
will, thrive even further.”
In an article for the Cooperative Business
NZ website, Mr Presland said there was
a “new economy mission” taking root
around the world, adding: “Distributed
ownership and governance, with the co-op
p The sole boat harbour on the Pacific island of Nauru
business model at the forefront, is now
becoming more and more important to
global economies.”
Mr Presland has also hit back at
comments by a radio broadcaster who
branded New Zealand’s Pacific island
neighbours as “leeches”.
Newstalk ZB host Heather du Plessis-
Allan said in a discussion that the Pacific
islands “don’t matter”, adding: “They are
nothing but leeches on us. The Pacific
islands want money from us.”
Mr Presland, said the co-operative
business model can aid the sustainable
development of the Pacific region.
He pointed out that New Zealand’s
spending on aid to the islands is just 0.4%
of the government’s total fiscal budget for
2018/19, and that the country has benefited
significantly from Pacific labour since the
1970s, often in more physically demanding
and low-paid jobs.
He said the co-op business model “can
help the Pacific nations’ economies grow
stronger through member ownership,
profits returned to members (suppliers,
staff or customers) each year, and profits
retained locally.”
NOVEMBER 2018 | 19