Towards Co-operative Identity I: Re-Visiting the Co operative Epistemology for Business Modelling Framework

Abstract

Background: In December 2021, the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA), organized the 33rd World Co operative Congress in Seoul, South Korea; with a rallying call for "deepening our co-operative identity" to secure the future. Based on the current global crisis as a framework, the congress discussions were aimed to deepen the co-operative identity by examining the co-operative values, strengthening co-operative actions, committing to co-operative principles, and living the co-operative achievements. Behind these pertinent issues, is the centrality of knowledge and information for co-operative business models development and management by practitioners in various contexts across the world. Purpose and Methodology: The purpose of this study paper was to help identify types and sources of the from broad co-operative development and management knowledge and show how epistemologies contribute to the co-operative business modelling framework in different contexts. The qualitative methodology was used by reviewing, discussing, and drawing on conclusion of the different epistemologies into the context of the co operative's development and management. Results: The co-operative development and management is based on at least both the Foundationalism (Justificationism) and Fallibilism epistemologies. The specific epistemologies for co-operatives development are largely historical relativisms (i.e., history of co-operatives development), Criticalism (i.e., theories), Instrumentalism (i.e., schools of thoughts), Paradigmatic Relativism (i.e., development trends), and Paradigmatic Justificationism (i.e., definitions and principles) and Pragmatism (i.e., co-operative laws). The battleground of the epistemologies for co-operative development and management is between the Criticalism (especially Critical Rationalism) and Solidarist Relativism (in particular cultural relativism, paradigmatic relativism, communitarian relativism, and historical relativism). Conclusion: The results of this study inform the co-operative scholars and practitioners on how to gain knowledge on the successful development and management of co-operatives. Thus, the study delineates the specific epistemologies that contribute to the co-operative development and management.