Files
Abstract
This paper deals with the so-called crisis of the agricultural cooperative
organizations (ACOs) with particular reference to the increasing tendencies
underlying the domination of the globalization processes in the Greek
agricultural sector. The agricultural cooperative movement may be periodized
at least into three main periods: 1) the inter-war period, 2) the post-war period
until the 1970s and 3) the post-1981 period. The latter period has meant
considerable transformation of the ACOs and of their prospects. The paper
focuses on this latter period, when it seems that new conditions shape the future
of Greek ACOs. First there is a short account of the cooperative movement
both in the inter-war, and in the first post-war period. Second, the modern crisis
of the cooperative organizations is discussed in detail. Third, the changing
nature of ACOs is pointed out, while some arguments are in order to describe
the possible responses of ACOs to the globalization process. Finally, the
concluding part includes a brief discussion of the prospects of ACOs within
the new environment.