Question

_______ Control is the principle of co-operation

• A. Autocratic
• B. Democratic
• C. Centralised
• D. None of these

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Democratic

• Democratic control is indeed the fundamental principle of cooperation. This principle establishes that cooperative organizations should be democratically controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. In a cooperative structure, each member typically has one vote regardless of their capital contribution, ensuring equal participation in the decision-making process.

• The democratic principle distinguishes cooperatives from other business models:

  • Autocratic control (Option A) would contradict the cooperative philosophy as it concentrates power in the hands of a few individuals

  • Centralized control (Option C) similarly goes against the participatory nature of cooperatives

  • None of these (Option D) is incorrect as democratic control is clearly the established principle

• This democratic governance ensures that cooperatives remain member-focused organizations where decisions reflect the collective will and serve the common interests of all members. It's one of the core principles established by the International Cooperative Alliance and has been consistently maintained through various reformulations of cooperative principles, including the latest version from 1995.