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An examination of the contributions of social science to the study of agricultural cooperatives in the development process of Third World countries discusses: (1) indigenous & institutional or introduced forms of cooperation as related to the problems of compatibility & transferability of cooperative principles in development; (2) cooperation as a form of social behavior, in relation to problems of recruitment & individual participation; (3) cooperation as a strategy for agricultural development projects & programs, with respect to problems of goals, poverty, & the social responsibility of developers toward affected populations. It is shown that sociological differences in types of cooperative organization are usually greater than economic differences, at least as measured by quantitative or financial criteria. The generally accepted notion that cooperatives are most successful with middle-level agrarian producers, & therefore should not be expected to help resource-deficient ones, is supported. A number of concepts in social science that are not usually applied in the study of cooperative ideals & principles are introduced that may enhance understanding of the decision-making process in indigenous societies concerning membership in cooperative organizations. In general, the social reality of cooperatives -- as human behavior & organization -- is very different from the image projected by the official ideology of the international cooperative movement. 3 Figures, 99 References. Modified AA.

The need for a human rights dimension to the development process is recognized by a growing number of states and international organizations. The tendency so far has been to focus on rights in a general sense, although there is some recognition of the need to consider the rights of indigenous peoples in a development context. The integration of these rights into development programs can encounter difficulties partly because of the uncertainty surrounding the scope of some of the more important rights claimed by indigenous peoples. The article examines the scope of these rights under international law and explores some of their potential implications for the development process. It argues that while some of these human rights claims are not yet recognized under international law, the position is continually evolving. It also argues that the increasing recognition of several rights, especially the right to effective participation, may help to address the sense of marginalization traditionally experienced by indigenous peoples from the development process.

This edited collection proposes a common good approach to development theory and practice. Rather than focusing on the outcomes or conditions of development, the contributors concentrate on the quality of development processes, suggesting that a common good dynamic is key in order to trigger development.

Resulting from more than three years of research by an international group of over fifty scholars, the volume advocates for a modern understanding of the common good—rather than a theological or metaphysical good—in societies by emphasising the social practice of 'commoning' at its core. It suggests that the dynamic equilibrium of common goods in a society should be at the centre of development efforts. For this purpose, it develops a matrix of common good dynamics, accounting for how institutions, social norms and common practices interconnect by identifying five key drivers not only of development, but human development (agency, governance, justice, stability, humanity). Based on this matrix, the contributors suggest a possible metric for measuring the quality of these dynamics. The last section of the book highlights the possibilities enabled by this approach through a series of case studies.

The concept of the common good has recently enjoyed a revival and inspired practitioners keen to look beyond the shortcomings of political and economic liberalism. This book builds on those efforts to think beyond the agenda of twentieth-century development policies, and will be of interest to those working in the fields of development, economics, sociology, philosophy and political science.