Cooperation among cooperatives: Forms, barriers and triggers

Abstract

This research addresses how the sixth cooperative principle of cooperation among cooperatives manifests internationally. Despite its formalisation by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), inter-cooperation remains understudied, particularly regarding its forms, triggers and barriers across diverse national contexts. The study aims to map these dynamics through a comparative analysis of several cooperatives from Belgium, Finland and Italy, three countries with distinct cooperative traditions, regulatory frameworks and cultural attitudes. Its goal is to provide insights for cooperatives seeking to leverage partnerships for resilience, innovation and broader societal impact. By examining how institutional, economic and cultural factors shape inter-cooperation, this study offers practical guidance for strengthening the global cooperative movement. Theoretically, the study builds on inter-organisational collaboration frameworks, contextualised through the principles of the ICA. It critiques literature gaps, such as the omission of national institutional influences on partnership models. Key concepts include formal and informal cooperation structures, different triggers like economic, institutional or social motivations, and barriers as governance misalignment or regulatory constraints. A qualitative approach was employed, involving semi-structured interviews with seventeen cooperatives and apex organisations across Belgium, Finland and Italy. Participants spread across multiple sectors ensuring diverse perspectives. The data collection focused on real-world practices of inter-cooperation, with the thematic analysis identifying patterns in forms, triggers and barriers. The results reveal significant international variation. In Belgium, inter-cooperation is diverse and driven by market pressures and ideological divides, with apex organisations playing a limited role. Finland exhibits pragmatic, peer-focused collaboration, centred on knowledge exchange. Italy demonstrates strong networked traditions, with cross-sectoral apex organisations driving joint projects and solidarity support. Common findings include the universal importance of apex organisations for lobbying and knowledge sharing, the underutilisation of deeper cooperation forms beyond superficial exchange, and shared challenges like demographic ageing and EU regulatory misalignment. Economic triggers are secondary to institutional and cultural factors, while barriers stem more from mindsets than insurmountable structures.