From July 8 to 11, 2025, the Institut international des…
Bridging Divides: Promoting Economic, Social, and Cultural Democracy
Coming together through open membership has been a hallmark of the co-operative movement since its inception. Co-operative enterprises have brought together diverse groups of individuals to meet their economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations. Diversity in the co-operative movement continues to be one of its key strengths—never more so than in the current COVID-19 context that has amplified inequities in our social, economic, legal, ecological, and other systems. The ability of co-operatives to “Bridge the Divide” between diverse social and cultural groups is what this special issue seeks to explore. Specifically, this special issue will discuss racialized and marginalized communities and their relationship with the co-operative movement. As a response to anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism, communities have turned to the co-operative movement to overcome challenges and “reclaim community” in a collaborative manner. Co-operatives can be spaces where racialized people from various socio-economic backgrounds come together for a common purpose, bridging their divides and advancing racial cohesion and reconciliation.
The special issue seeks to bring members of the global co-operative movement together to stimulate and facilitate the discussion on the strength of our diversity. As a movement we must be self-reflective and critical ensuring that marginalized and racialized populations (specifically Black and Indigenous communities) are meaningfully engaged in all aspects of co-operative development.
Guest editors of the Special Issue are Fiona Duguid (fduguid@gmail.com), Isobel Findlay (findlay@edwards.usask.ca), Judith Harris (j.harris@uwinnipeg.ca), Derya Tarhan (mdtarhan@gmail.com), Mitch Diamantopoulos (mitch.diamantopoulos@uregina.ca), Lisa Mychajluk (lisa.mychajluk@mail.utoronto.ca), and ICACCR representatives Costas Iliopoulos (iliopoulosC@agreri.gr) and Roger Spear (roger.spear@open.ac.uk)
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We invite proposals on any of the following broad themes.
Proposals on other topics involving co-operatives and co-operation are also welcome.
We welcome papers from scholars, students, researchers, and practitioners submitted by 28 February 2021. Papers (original, unpublished work) should not exceed 8,000 words and should include a 200-word abstract and short bio (up to 1000 words). Paper template and referencing should follow the APA style guide. All papers are subject to double-blind peer review. Please submit your paper online using this link.
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Canadian Association for Studies in Co-operation (CASC) is a multidisciplinary network of researchers and practitioners whose work involves co-operatives and co-operation, broadly understood to include, but not limited to, Fair Trade, Social Economy organizations, Solidarity Economies, and formal and informal alternative economic organizations governed by some significant degree of mutuality. Our mission is to promote research on co-operatives and co-operation in Canada, while facilitating linkages between academics, practitioners, and research organizations on an international scale.