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Liberal democracy is in crisis around the world. There is, however, another way forward. From consumer co-ops to worker cooperatives, nonprofits to mutual aid, there are already countless examples that demonstrate how cooperation can extend the ideals of sustainability and participatory democracy into nearly every aspect of our lives.

Contemporary critical theorist, legal advocate, and author Bernard Harcourt has developed a transformative theory and practice that builds on global models of successful cooperation. His new book, Cooperation: A Political, Economic, and Social Theory, provides a positive vision for addressing some of the world’s most urgent challenges. In it, Bernard shows that by drawing on “the power of people working together,” a new world of cooperation democracy is within our grasp, one that promotes the equitable distribution of wealth, replaces the punitive punishment paradigm with a cooperation paradigm, and ensures the future of our planet.

Today, Bernard joins us to unpack his framework for coöperism and the political, social, and economic theories it encompasses. We discuss the problem of human interdependence, how cooperation differs from socialism, what it would take to put coöperism into practice, and how we can rethink outdated separatist cooperative arguments with the understanding that cooperation isn’t human nature: it has to be a choice. To learn more about coöperism and how it can harness the longstanding practices and values of cooperatives (like self-determination, democratic participation, equity, solidarity, and respect for the environment), tune in today! 

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Key Points From This Episode:

•   The arc of Bernard’s journey thus far and an overview of his book, Cooperation. [0:01:04]

•   How the urgency of coöperism intersects with the urgency of the climate crisis. [0:05:51]

•   Issues with regulatory capture and differences between cooperation and socialism. [0:15:11]

•   What Bernard believes it would take to make cooperation a more popular practice. [0:20:29]

•   How the social theory of coöperism addresses normative punishment. [0:28:24]

•   Overcoming political barriers to cooperation by rethinking outdated arguments for it. [0:38:15]

•   Practical considerations for “making the choice towards cooperation.“ [0:44:08]

•   Building “muscle memory” for cooperation by consciously practicing forms of democratic self-governance that nourish society. [0:47:33]

•   Insight into the upcoming Coöperism 13/13 seminar series at Columbia. [0:55:08]

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Quotes:

“Particularly given the global climate crisis and the total interdependence that we face as humans today, [it’s time to] rethink, re-theorize, and re-justify a form of cooperation that is integrated, wholesome, and complete.” — @BernardHarcourt [0:04:35]

“The vision of coöperism that I’m proposing – is one that is opposed to or an alternative to both forms of what we conventionally call capitalism on the one hand or socialism on the other.” — @BernardHarcourt [0:18:54]

“Part of the idea of coöperism is to find ways to leverage these different forms of cooperation to make them work together so as to create a fully integrated cooperative society and economy.” — @BernardHarcourt [0:24:27]

“[Cooperation] is not in our human nature. It has to be chosen.” — @BernardHarcourt [0:40:46]

“It’s remarkable to think about all of the different spaces and ways in which one can see forms of cooperation playing such an important role.” — @BernardHarcourt [0:56:12]

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Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Bernard Harcourt — http://bernardharcourt.com/

Bernard Harcourt on X — https://twitter.com/BernardHarcourt

Initiative for a Just Society — https://cccct.law.columbia.edu/content/initiative-just-society

Cooperation: A Political, Economic, and Social Theory — https://cup.columbia.edu/book/cooperation/9780231209540

Critique & Praxis: A Critical Philosophy of Illusions, Values, and Action — http://cup.columbia.edu/book/critique-and-praxis/9780231551458

The Illusion of Free Markets — https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674066168

Coöperism 13/13 — https://cooperism.law.columbia.edu/

Cooperative Home Care Associates — https://www.chcany.org/

Land O’ Lakes — https://www.landolakesinc.com/

Park Slope Food Coop — https://www.foodcoop.com/

MONDRAGON — https://www.mondragon-corporation.com/en/

Cooperation Jackson — https://cooperationjackson.org/

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