The Spirit of Mutual Aid In Cooperative Banks?

Answer 1

Cooperative banks have an impressive presence throughout the world. There are many in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and India among many places. They were initially seen as mutual aid societies whereby members of certain mutual groups would pool funds together to help each other.

Various government licensing bodies got involved to oversee the activities of cooperative banks. Some of the banks have formalized themselves to such an extent that they have have become public with stocks traded on the Stock Market.

These particular publicly traded cooperative banks have defied the original structures. Any publicly traded company owes it first allegiance to its shareholders. Hence, in this instance the name "cooperative" has evolved to become effectively meaningless from its original intent.

In India, a group of 48 cooperative banks has been recently sued for allowing one person or interest to have multiple accounts. The simple point is that no matter how "mutual" the cooperative bank is, there is still the chance that certain members may fall back to the self-interest spirit, recognized so well by Thomas Hobbes.

Perhaps cooperative banks have had their histories, in the sense that they have served their purpose in helping communities establish their economic footing to get off the ground and into mutual service of its members. Yet, there are many developing countries where the concept of mutual cooperation among citizens can still produce meaningful effects.

These countries have faced decades and centuries of poverty, neglect and subjugation. Their histories could speak of exploitation, but the problem is that the histories are usually written by the exploiters who have returned to make amends.

The organizing of an enterprise such as a cooperative bank must also be accompanied by the spirit of the affair. It is a particular and peculiar spirit. It is peculiar because it asks its participants to ignore their own self interests for a while. It is particular because it has a distinct focus of the one for the all, and the all for the one. This is a classical feeling expressing a simple regard for others as people belonging to a community.