ABSTRACT

The co-operative movement in Russia is very interesting. But if we wish to understand it, we must acquaint ourselves with the background in which this movement was developing. We must remember that Russia has always been—and still is—a vast agricultural country. Its population on the eve of the last War was over 150 millions, of whom 80 millions were peasants. There were only three millions of industrial workers in Russia and from 12 to 15 millions of wage-earners.