京都大学 京都大学

Theory of Cooperatives: Roles and Realities

Numbering Code U-AGR04 2D213 LJ82 Year/Term 2022 ・ Second semester
Number of Credits 2 Course Type Lecture
Target Year 2nd year students Target Student
Language Japanese Day/Period Fri.4
Instructor name TSUJIMURA HIDEYUKI (Graduate School of Agriculture Professor)
KITAGAWA　TAICHI (Part-time Lecturer)
SETSU　TAKASHI (Part-time Lecturer)
Outline and Purpose of the Course 　You may be a member of Kyoto University Co-op. When you buy fresh produce at the supermarket, they come with a JA sticker. When you watch TV, there are advertisements from the JA Bank and mutual aid societies. Everyone is aware that co-operatives are an indispensable part of our lives. In addition, the phrase "agricultural co-op reform" is frequently seen in the press.
　What is a co-operative? How is it different from a private firm (limited company)? What is the difference between an agricultural co-operative (JA) and a co-op (a consumer co-operative)? Why are agricultural co-ops urged to reform?
　The course starts with basics, such as the establishment and history of co-operatives, and their ideals and principles (management rules), and provides lectures on their organization and project management problems, focusing on the agricultural co-operative, which has a strong link to food/agriculture/the food system. Lectures will make reference to the features of other co-operatives such as consumer and fishery and forestry co-operatives, as well as collaboration among co-operatives.
　Furthermore, lectures on applied and practical issues such as what is demanded in the "agricultural co-operative reform" (i.e., institutional contradiction in the associate membership system, regulation on business use, the separation of trust and mutual aid businesses, economic project reform, and the introduction of certified accountants), what co-ops and agricultural co-operatives are doing in order to build consumer civil society/a social solidarity economy, and what farmers (members) expect from them.
Course Goals The aims are to understand the structure and features of co-operatives, mainly agricultural co-operatives, and their problems in organization and management, as well as the background and content of the "agricultural co-operative reform;" to understand that the existence and role of co-operatives are deeply related to agriculture/food in Japan and the world, as well as in the economy and society of rural and mountainous areas and our lives in general; and to develop an ability to think independently about the problems of the co-operative.
Schedule and Contents 1: Basic understanding of the co-operative (1) ? its establishment and history in the world, ideals, and so on (Kitakawa)
2: Basic understanding of the co-operative (2) ? principles of co-operatives and the difference from a private firm (Kitakawa)
3: The Japanese style comprehensive agricultural co-operative (1) (organization and system) (Kitakawa)
4: The Japanese style comprehensive agricultural co-operative (2) (business) (Kitakawa)
5: Organizational problems of the Japan Agricultural Cooperatives ? problems with associate members and governance (Setsu)
6: Management problems of the Japan Agricultural Cooperatives ? comprehensive management and interdependence of trust and mutual aid businesses (Setsu)
7: The "self-reform" of the Japan Agricultural Cooperatives and the "community co-operatives based on food and farming" (Kitakawa)
8: Consumer civil society/social solidarity economy and co-operatives (1)
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　─ Procurement that supports agriculture and direct-from-the-producer (Tsujimura)
9: Consumer civil society/social solidarity economy and co-operatives (2)
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　─ Procurement that supports agriculture and community-supported agriculture (Tsujimura)
10: Consumer civil society/social solidarity economy and co-operatives (3)
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　─ The role of a member of the university co-op (Tsujimura)
11: Comparison of agricultural co-operatives in the world ? comparison with the comprehensive agricultural co-operatives and agricultural co-operative reform in Japan (Tsujimura)
12: Features of consumer and fishery and forestry co-operatives, and collaboration among co-operatives (Kitakawa)
13: New co-operatives ? the potential for workers' co-operatives (Kitakawa)
14: The agricultural co-operative's role and expectations and challenges from the farmer's (member's) perspective
15: Feedback
Evaluation Methods and Policy Assessment is based on attitude (attendance and mini reports) (50%) and the end-of-semester report (50%).
Assessment criteria and policy are drawn from "Assessment criteria and policy" in the current version of the Faculty of Agriculture Student Handbook.
Course Requirements This course is for students who are interested in food/environmental economics and co-operatives who can attend all classes. (Attendance is taken every time.)　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
Study outside of Class (preparation and review) Essays (mini reports) to summarize what has been covered in class will be assigned from time to time. Students are instructed to spend at least 10 minutes on them at the end of class or 30 minutes at home as a take-home assignment to review the content.
Textbooks Textbooks/References Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives 『JAファクトブック』 (Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives)
References, etc. JC Soken 『新　協同組合とは（再訂版）』 (JC Soken), KITAKAWA, Taichi 『新時代の地域協同組合』 (Ie-no-hikari-kyokai), KITAKAWA, Taichi and SHIBAGAKI, Yuji (eds.) 『農業協同組合論』 (Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives); TSUJIMURA, Hideyuki 『南部アフリカの農村協同組合』 (Nihonkeizai-hyoronsha), TSUJIMURA, Hideyuki 『農業を買い支える仕組み』 (Ota-shuppan), KOIKE, Tsuneo (ed.) 『農協の存在意義と新しい展開方向』 (Showado), YAMAMOTO, Osamu; YOSHIDA, Tadashi and KOIKE, Tsuneo (eds.) 『協同組合のコーポレート・ガバナンス』 (Ie-no-hikari-kyokai)
Courses delivered by Instructors with Practical Work Experience 分類：

An omnibus course delivered by invited lecturers and guest speakers from different companies, etc.
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