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COOPERATIVES: HAS THEIR TIME COME - OR GONE?

TABLE OF CONTENTS


(Rural Cooperatives and Participatory Development)

The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this document do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the United Nations or the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

Rural Institutions and Participation Service
Rural Development Division
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
October 1996
Rome, Italy


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION

THE COOPERATIVE IDENTITY CRISIS
When is a Coop not a Coop?
Governments' Hijack of Cooperatives

COOPERATIVES IN A CONTEXT OF GLOBALISATION AND LIBERALISATION
Preparing to Face Competition
Are Cooperatives Inevitable?
Where the Government Comes In

ROLE OF TRAINING AND MEMBER EQUITY STAKE AS A MEANS FOR EFFECATIVE PARTICIPATION
Training and Education: the Road to Member Empowerment
Member Equity TO Overcome Member Indifference

THE GENDER DIMENSION
Why is Female Participation so Low?
Promoting Women's Economic and Social Integration

CONCLUSIONS

APPENDIX