Understanding Social Recognition of Cooperatives from a Bourdieusian Perspective: The Cases of Kalkbreite in Zurich (CH) and Exeter Street Hall in Brighton (UK)

Abstract

AbstractCooperatives, characterized as autonomous associations of individuals who voluntarily come together to address shared economic, social, and cultural needs, hold a pivotal position in both local and global economies. Despite their significant presence, research on cooperatives has often been fragmented, focusing either on economic or social aspects. This study employs Bourdieu’s theory of forms of capital as a relational framework to bridge the gap between economic capital and non-economic capitals (social, cultural, and symbolic) in order to comprehensively examine the intricate and distinctive attributes of cooperatives. Through longitudinal case studies of a housing cooperative in Switzerland and a cultural cooperative in the UK, this research focuses on the strategic accumulation of diverse forms of capital (economic, social, cultural, and symbolic) by cooperatives and examines the mechanisms through which they convert these forms of capital. By tracing this transformative journey, we seek to understand the dynamics of capital accumulation and conversion that empower cooperatives to operate effectively and gain recognition from local communities to broader regional contexts.