After the first reformulation of the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) principles, open membership remained a fundamental principle. This means co-operatives must be open to all people willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without discrimination based on gender, social status, race, or religion.
Other options:
Promotion of education – emphasized but formally highlighted in later revisions.
Selling unadulterated goods – specific to consumer co-operatives, not a universal ICA principle.
Cash trading only – not an ICA principle.
The key idea is that open membership is essential to the cooperative identity across all reformulations.
