ABSTRACT
In comparison with other European countries, the Austrian cooperative sector differs by the high relevance of (conventionalized) housing cooperatives and of a strongly conventionalized, inauthentic cooperative banking sector, while worker and social cooperatives are almost completely absent. We briefly analyze this situation against the backdrop of Austria’s history of corporate statism that co-opted cooperatives and crowded out certain types. Political history explains the long-term degeneration of cooperativism. Since neoliberal policies remained comparatively limited, there were less incentives for cooperatives to expand, which might contribute to their enduring neglect by the state. This chapter identifies two main currents within the Austrian movement: one more mainstream and market-oriented, the other more transformative and grounded in social justice and sustainability. By recognizing and engaging with this diversity, the cooperative movement can strengthen its role as a key actor in building inclusive and resilient economies, ultimately fulfilling its core purpose: to improve people’s lives.
