Cooperatives of Public Services
The newly proposed CIRIEC Transversal Working Group on Public Service Cooperatives aims to explore and revitalize the role of cooperatives as innovative vehicles for delivering public services. Building on the historical legacy of cooperatives—especially their 19th-century origins in providing essential services—and their contemporary resurgence in countries like Germany and the UK, the group seeks to address a critical gap in research: the understudied potential of cooperatives to reconcile commercial viability with democratic governance in public service provision.
The project will investigate how cooperatives can offer an alternative to traditional public institutions or private enterprises, emphasizing values like citizen participation, equitable governance, and reinvestment of profits for collective benefit. Through historical analysis, comparative case studies, and theoretical reflection, the group will identify successful governance models and propose actionable frameworks for broader adoption. The initiative also aims to foster international collaboration, disseminating findings through publications, conferences, and public engagement to inspire both academic discourse and practical implementation. The ultimate goal is to position cooperatives as a sustainable, democratic, and efficient model for modern public service delivery.
- Call for interest FR – EN
- Register your interest by completing the form available here.
- Deadline: 15 May 2026.
