Call for Papers

XVI. International Conference on Cooperative Studies

October 7th – 9th, 2008 at the University of Cologne

Contributions of cooperative self-help
to economic and social development

General Information

The XVI. International conference on cooperative studies (ICCS) is a three-day conference built around the issue of contributions of cooperative self-help to economic and social development. It will take place between 7th and 9th of October 2008 at the University of Cologne. The ICCS is held every four years on behalf of the Association of Cooperative Studies Institutes (AGI). The AGI is an association of academic research institutes at German-speaking universities focused on cooperative studies. In the AGI business and political economists, sociologists and jurists work together to advance the development of cooperative theory and to obtain ideas that can be implemented in practice.

Target Group

The invitation to this scientific dialogue goes to everyone from the scientific and the business world who is interested in cooperative self-help. Our programme deals with the clarification and updating of theoretical foundation, the discussion of various cognitive interests and different methodical approaches to an application-orientated cooperative science.

The ICCS-Conference relies on the participation of all the academics and practitioners that have adopted an interesting approach. Since we want to bring forward topicality, diversity and innovation, every proposal connected to one of our themes is welcome. Are you working on a new project? Do you know about problems in cooperative practice and are you prepared to illustrate these problems in an academic surrounding? Please submit your lecture proposals and keep in mind the following important points.

Best Paper Award

The contributor of the best paper will receive a price of 2000 €.
(Contributions can also be handed in as non-competitive papers.)

Topics and focal points

I. Topic: Cooperatives and the Progression of medium-sized Businesses

Small and medium-sized businesses are being recognized worldwide to be the backbone of economic development. Craftsmen, small businessmen, farmers and households have been forming cooperatives since the time of industrialization to withstand the competition with big business and the basic structural change respectively. Nowadays, more and more self-employed people like lawyers and physicians form cooperatives to source out functions from their offices and by doing so they strengthen their supply or demand-position in competition. The members of cooperatives, but also the cooperatives themselves, are predominantly small and medium-sized businesses. But for some time now several big cooperatives have been operating internationally as global players.

I.1. Block: Basic Research

Similar to organizational theory several methodical approaches and theories compete in cooperative theory. Expected are in this bloc basic observations and analysis about the competing methods and approaches in cooperation research: game theory, decision theory, systems theory, operational and evolutionary approaches and new institutional economics. Furthermore fundamental analysis on cooperatives and the law of cooperatives from a perspective of jurisprudence or legal history are desired.

I.2. Block: Problems in cooperative Practice

The block „Problems in cooperative practice from the perspective of the scientific community, the cooperative associations and the cooperatives“ invites those interested in the following topics to send in their contributions: cooperative foundation, cooperatives and investing members, private equity and cooperatives, cooperative governance, internationalization of cooperatives and SME-promotion.

I.3. Block: Research Desiderata

For the third bloc we expect contributions to research strategies in the future: Where is the science of cooperatives going? Which questions and which methods are relevant to future researchers?

II. Topic: Cooperatives and social Services

In Germany the cooperative is a singular legal and economic form of a company because it is the only organization that is legally defined as promoting its members. Unemployed persons and persons that are socially disadvantaged try more and more to design social and welfare policies “from the ground up” through co-operative self help. But also charities and other actors in the welfare and social systems consider cooperatives to be more and more interesting. Cooperatives are seen as an important component of the third sector in the conceptions of the civil society and the activating welfare state. They are also considered an instrument of the accumulation of social capital. Accordingly the focus lies on the analysis of the third sector where studies in cooperation overlap with social politics.

II.1. Block: Basic Research

The first block is devoted to the determination of the subject-matter which is cooperative entities of collective self help. The European law and the different organizational forms of cooperative self help should be considered.

II.2. Block: Problems in cooperative Practice

The problems of the cooperative practice from the perspective of the scientifical community, the cooperative associations and the cooperatives demand an analysis of: cooperative self help enterprises and groups throughout Europe, the attractiveness of offering public services under the legal form of cooperative and whether cooperatives are a suitable tool to handle municipal functions and to reduce unemployment.

II.3. Block: Research Desiderata

The research desiderata are supposed to be developed on the theory of cooperatives and the analysis of life cycles considering conditions of emergence and factors of development.

III. Topic: Cooperatives promoting Development

In the context of international development the cooperative self help of SMEs and of households is under debate. Here, our focus is rather on the role of cooperatives in the developing societies than on the role of cooperatives in the promotion of their members.

III.1. Block: Basic Research

This block deals with the following issues: How do societies develop? Is it possible to boost the development of societies? If so, how? What does the aspect self-help involve? Please, bear the following points in mind: new trade relations between countries, new emerging countries, urban and rural developments, and so on.

III.2. Block: Problems in cooperative Practice

Here we expect problem oriented analysis of singular cases in the context of international development. In developing countries many different experiences have been made concerning cooperatives and similar organizations. On the one hand one can often find a system of cooperatives that is strongly influenced by government agencies and government-controlled organizations. On the other hand progress by cooperatives has been made in the fight against poverty, food provision and services of general interest. Due to Muhammad Yunus and his Grameen-Bank-Project winning the Nobel prize this section focuses especially on micro-finance systems but also on micro-assurances.

III.3. Block: Research Desiderata

Contributions to this block are concerned with analyzing research strategies for the future of cooperative self-help in the context of international development.

Guidelines for Submissions

With this call we invite scholars and academically interested practitioners to send in their papers and thereby apply to hold a lecture during the conference. The applications of young scientists is emphatically desired because the mixture of contributions by leading researchers and young academics is bound to spark lively discussions and interesting exchanges.

Specifications for Submissions

Please send in your submissions in German or English as a 2-page-abstract (ca. 5000 characters). The abstract should be composed in the same language as the presentation is to be held in.

Please add a short resume/CV and your contact details to your abstract.
Please let us know if your contribution is not supposed to enter the competition for the Best Paper Award.

The closing date for submisions is January 1st, 2008.

The abstracts submitted will be judged by the organizational team based on their content, their form and their adequacy for the event. Claims concerning the acceptance of contributions cannot be raised.

The authors of accepted contributions will be notified and they are then obliged to submit their papers by August 15th, 2008. Slides should also be handed in. The organizational team reserves the right to retrospectively reject your contribution, if your paper differs considerably from the abstract. If that happens, claims to take part in the conference as a speaker cannot be asserted.

You can send us your contribution by post or by e-mail. If you choose to send it to us electronically please use .doc or .pdf as data format. Please send in your contributions to igt2008-papers@uni-koeln.de or to our postal address:

ICCS-Organisation
c/o Seminar für Genossenschaftswesen
Universität zu Köln
Albertus Magnus Platz
D-50923 Köln
Germany

If you have any questions, you can reach us via

Tel.: ++49-(0)221-470-2217 oder -4526
Fax: ++49-(0)221-470-4999
E-Mail: igt2008-info@uni-koeln.de

Miscellaneous

The titles of the papers and the abstracts as well as particulars of the authors (name, CV, etc.) will be published in the conference programme, on our website and in print as soon as your contributions have been accepted by the organizational team. The lectures may be recorded in sound and vision. The submission of your work documents your agreement to this procedure.

The ICCS 2008 is being organized and carried out voluntarily and without profit orientation by an association of scholars. Because of that, we have limited financial means at our command. Therefor it is not possible for us to offer lecturers an appropriate fee. Furthermore, please keep in mind the following points concerning travel expenses and accommodation.

Active participants do not have to pay an attendance fee.

Generally, the ICCS 2008 cannot compensate travel and accommodation costs. However, a small contingent is at our disposal to provide support for those who would otherwise not be able to attend the conference.

Whatever the case may be, it is neccesary to file an application for participation cost support within the time limit stated below. We cannot guarantee to cover specific expenses before submissions of applications. Financial support will be transferred after the conference and only after evidence of expenses (e.g. petrol and hotel bills, plane or train tickets) has been provided. Cash reimbursements will not be possible.

The ICCS 2008 takes place in the auditorium building (Hörsaalgebäude) of the University of Cologne. Here you can find a map of the campus and directions.

Important dates

Please keep the following dates in mind. The IGT 2008 reserves the right to cancel invitations if deadlines are not met.

Deadline for submission of abstracts: 1. January 2008
Notification of acceptance: 1. March 2008
Submissions of papers: 15. August 2008
Deadline for participation cost support applications: 1. May 2008
ICCS 2008: 7.-9. October 2008