New Society Publishers Ltd.
Humanizing the economy; co-operatives in the age of capital.
Restakis (executive director, BC Co-operative Association) makes a compelling argument for the co-op movement as an alternative to free market capitalism. He reviews the history and theory behind the movement's rise on the heels of the industrial revolution, noting the ideas of Robert Owen and William Thompson and focusing primarily on Europe. He then gives several examples of economic democracy at work around the world including Japan's consumer cooperatives, tea co-ops in Sri Lanka, sex workers organizing in Calcutta, and co-ops in Emilia Romagna, Italy. Accessible to the general reader, this thoughtful examination will be of interest to activists as well as social economists, and the co-op community. Distributed by Consortium Book Sales and Distribution. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
