Kooperativets

Kooperativets is the Swedish possessive form of kooperativ, used when referring to a cooperative or the cooperative sector. A kooperativ is an autonomous association of people who join to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise.

Core features include member ownership, open membership, and democratic governance, where each member typically has one vote. Surpluses are usually allocated to members or reinvested in the cooperative rather than distributed to external shareholders.

The cooperative movement emerged in the 19th century, guided by the Rochdale Principles of voluntary and open membership, democratic control, limited return on capital, distribution of surplus, education, cooperation among co-ops, and concern for the community.

Cooperatives occur in many forms, including consumer, worker, agricultural, housing, and multi-stakeholder co-ops. They operate worldwide and are commonly organized under national laws and federations. The International Cooperative Alliance coordinates standards and advocacy.

In Swedish contexts, kooperativet terminology appears in policy texts and business names. The movement has deep roots in retail and agriculture, illustrated by historical bodies such as Kooperativa Förbundet, which helped develop the Coop brand.