Conference Announcement
Business and Labour History Group, School of Business, The University of Sydney
Women's College, University of Sydney
Friday 17 March 2006
The International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) defines a co-operative as 'an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise.' Five broad types, or traditions, of co-operative activity have developed internationally since the mid-nineteenth century: retail (or consumer); financial (or banking); agricultural; worker; and health, housing, childcare, social and community activities. Co-operatives provide 100 million jobs worldwide, 20 per cent more than multinational enterprises. This conference explores the history of the politics of co-operation in relation to consumer goods and financial services. Specific institutions include Starr-Bowkett societies, retail co-operatives and credit unions. There are speakers from Australia, Canada and the USA.
Programme:
9.30 - 10.00 Registration
10.00 - 10.45 Welcome and Introduction
Nikola Balnave (University of Western Sydney) and Greg Patmore (The University of Sydney), "The Politics of Consumption: An overview"
10.45 - 11.15 Morning Tea
11.15 - 12.15 Overseas Perspectives
Eugene Plawiuk (Canada) "'The New Age' Consumer Political Economics in the Early Twentieth Century; Distributism, Social Credit and the Co-operative Movement"
Steve Leikin (San Francisco State University), "Producers as Consumers: American Cooperators and the Labor Movement in the Gilded Age"
12.15 - 1.15 Lunch
1.15 - 2.45 Credit Unions and Star-Bowketts
Leanne Cutcher and Melissa Kerr (The University of Sydney) "'Not for Profit, Not for Charity, but for Service': Co-operativeness in the face of increasing competition in the Australian Credit Union Movement"
Elizabeth Macknight (University of Melbourne), "Responses to Change: Melbourne University Credit Union 1969-2006"
Maxine Darnell (University of New England), "Attaining the Australian Dream the Starr-Bowkett Way"
2.45 - 3.15 Afternoon Tea
3.15 - 4.15 Co-operatives
Erik Eklund (University of Newcastle), "The Empire's Imperial Geography: Australian co-operation as a transnational phenomenon"
Nikola Balnave (University of Western Sydney) and Greg Patmore (The University of Sydney), "Localism and Rochdale Co-operation: The Junee and District Co-operative"
4.15 - 4.30 Conclusion
Registration details available at blhg.econ.usyd.edu.au/CPC_conference/register.html and further details can be obtained from greg patmore at