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Member-Owners
A Guide to Societies based on the principle of Mutuality
Malcolm Hornsby and Mervyn Wilson
New Sector Magazine, Issue No 28, June/July 1997
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In this article the authors describe the main characteristics of a range of
cooperative organisations: mutuals, cooperatives, clubs and associations. They
briefly outline the varying levels of member participation in these
organisational forms.
A section on de-mutualisation shows how two decades of free market
fundamentalism has created a culture of privatisation of mutual organisations.
The article concludes by calling upon the cooperative movement and others to
safeguard the mutual ownership form.
Recommendations are made for the introduction of rules that lock assets into the
organisation and make them indivisible; the updating and enhancement of member
services; and strengthening internal democracy and accountability.
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