Identification as a Trust‐Generating Mechanism in Cooperatives

Borgen, Svein Ole

doi:10.1111/1467-8292.00165

Cited by 125 publications

(90 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Similarly, it has been shown that cooperatives are generally perceived as trustworthy, given their constraint on the profits distribution and their democratic governance (Hansmann 1996;Ole Borgen 2001). In addition, citizen ownership contributes to the trust capital of CBE initiatives and cooperatives as it provides the guarantee to non-controlling stakeholders that the firm is managed by people who share their interest (Spear 2000).…”

Section: Community-based Energy Initiatives and Institutional Resiliencementioning

confidence: 99%

Polycentric Governance Approaches for a Low-Carbon Transition: The Roles of Community-Based Energy Initiatives in Enhancing the Resilience of Future Energy Systems

Bauwens

2017

Complex Systems and Social Practices in Energy Transitions

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An understanding of the resilience of energy systems is critical in order to tackle forthcoming challenges. This chapter proposes that the polycentric governance perspective, developed by Vincent and Elinor Ostrom, may be highly relevant in formulating policies to enhance the resilience of future energy systems. Polycentric governance systems involve the coexistence of many selforganized centers of decision making at multiple levels that are formally independent of each other, but operate under an overarching set of rules. Given this polycentric approach, this chapter studies the roles of community-based energy initiatives and, in particular, of renewable energy cooperatives, in enhancing the institutional resilience of energy systems. In this perspective, the chapter identifies three major socio-institutional obstacles, which undermine this resilience capacity: the collective action problem arising from the diffusion of sustainable energy technologies and practices, the lack of public trust in established energy actors and the existence of strong vested interests in favor of the status quo. Then, it shows why the development of community-based energy initiatives and renewable energy cooperatives may offer effective responses to these obstacles, relying on many empirical illustrations. More specifically, it is argued that communitybased energy initiatives present institutional features encouraging the activation of social norms and a high trust capital, therefore enabling them to offer effective solutions to avoid free riding and enhance trust in energy institutions and organizations. The creation of federated polycentric structures may also offer a partial response to the existence of vested interests in favor of the status quo. Finally, some recommendations for policymakers are derived from this analysis. This paper is an author post-print version of a book chapter published with Springer.Please cite as follows: Bauwens, T. (2017). 'Toward polycentric low-carbon transition: The roles of community-based organizations in enhancing the resilience of energy systems'.

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Section: Community-based Energy Initiatives and Institutional Resiliencementioning

confidence: 99%

Polycentric Governance Approaches for a Low-Carbon Transition: The Roles of Community-Based Energy Initiatives in Enhancing the Resilience of Future Energy Systems

Bauwens

2017

Complex Systems and Social Practices in Energy Transitions

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“…Further, trust -which is seen as an important mechanism for coordination and control in co-operatives (Borgen, 2001) -can be seen as an important mediator in the idenfication-normative commitment relationship. That is, existing literature identifies elements of such a connection.…”

Section: Identification With the Coalitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…That is, existing literature identifies elements of such a connection. First, members do not establish reciprocal relationships without trust (Borgen, 2001). In this context trust means that the members can expect and believe that their fellow members will not withdraw their contributions to collective action when opportunities for short-term gain arise outside the coalition.…”

Section: Identification With the Coalitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Should I Stay or Should I Go? Normative Member Commitment in Co-operatives

Jussila¹,

Roessl²,

Tuominen³

2014

IJMS

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Research on co-operative organizations has posited member commitment as a critical issue for sustainable and successful co-operation. To our knowledge, none of the previous works have focused on normative commitment to map accumulated knowledge on the members' sense of obligation to maintain patronage of the co-operative. It is towards these ends our work is directed. More specifically, our paper creates value for future research and practice of co-operation by identifying four sources of normative member-commitment: 1) coalition awareness, 2) internalization of co-operative philosophy, 3) identification with the coalition and 4) recognized realization of co-operative values and principles.

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“…Farmers tend to appreciate the social links within the membership body and the fact that the co-operative constitutes a reliable trading partner (Bhuyan, 2007;Gray and Kraenzle, 1998;Österberg and Nilsson, 2009). However, it is important that they can trust their co-operatives and feel that they are being properly treated (Borgen, 2001;Hansen et al, 2002;Nilsson et al, 2009). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A farmer-controlled business from a farmer perspective

Nilsson

Liljenstolpe²,

Lind³

et al. 2014

Journal on Chain and Network Science

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The ownership of food processing firms affects farmers supplying those firms with agricultural products. This study examined the effects of supplying either a farmer-controlled business (FCB) or competing investor-owned firms (IOFs). An FCB is owned and controlled partly by farmers and partly by external investors. Analysis of data obtained from a survey of pig producers in Sweden indicated that partial ownership by farmers resulted in them perceiving the FCB as having some cooperative traits. The FCB suppliers were less inclined to exit, used their voice more, and showed greater loyalty than the IOF suppliers. In the long term, however, the farmers' relatively positive view of FCBs might change because this organizational form contains inherent conflicts between the interests of the farmers and the external investors. As competition intensity increases and primary agriculture becomes increasingly concentrated, the co-operative features of an FCB are due to become vaguer over time. These problems may threaten the long-term existence of FCBs.

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Identification as a Trust‐Generating Mechanism in Cooperatives

Cited by 125 publications

References 12 publications

Polycentric Governance Approaches for a Low-Carbon Transition: The Roles of Community-Based Energy Initiatives in Enhancing the Resilience of Future Energy Systems

Polycentric Governance Approaches for a Low-Carbon Transition: The Roles of Community-Based Energy Initiatives in Enhancing the Resilience of Future Energy Systems

Should I Stay or Should I Go? Normative Member Commitment in Co-operatives

A farmer-controlled business from a farmer perspective

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