A Comparative Appraisal of Cooperatives: An Overview of Selected Case Studies from Four Countries in Africa, Europe and North America

This paper presents a comparative analysis of cooperatives through selected case studies from four countries in Africa, Europe, and North America. The paper is qualitative in nature and relies on secondary data analysis to explore the role of cooperatives in economic development and community empowerment. The findings reveal that while cooperatives in developed countries like Spain and Canada benefit from strong regulatory frameworks and institutional support, enabling them to thrive as significant economic actors, those in developing countries such as Nigeria and South Africa face complex and multifaceted challenges. The article underscores the critical importance of a conducive regulatory environment and effective governance in fostering thriving cooperative ecosystems. The findings contribute to the ongoing discourse on cooperatives as alternative development models for sustainable local economic development.