For more than a century now, cooperatives have been at the heart of innovative paths towards achieving decent work with the aim of reconciling the objectives of full employment and social justice. The ILO has, from its very beginnings, recognized cooperatives, in their various forms, as important allies to achieve its mandate of social justice and decent work.
Research published in the Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, published on behalf of the Edgard Milhaud Foundation of the International Centre of Research and Information on the Public, Social and  Cooperative Economy (CIRIEC), has been a key resource in promoting the work of cooperatives and wider social and solidarity economy both at the global and local levels.

On the occasion of celebrating ILO COOP Centennial, APCE presents a selection of 12 key articles that have shaped our contemporary understanding of cooperatives and the wider social and solidarity economy.

Marie J. Bouchard, Professor at Université du Québec à Montréal (Canada), and Marieke Louis, Associate Professor at Sciences Po Grenoble (France ), have taken the lead as co-editors of this retrospective issue. Their introduction explains the selection process for the articles included in the special issue.

The special retrospective issue on Cooperatives and the ILO over 100 Years: A selection of 12 Articles will be celebrated during the ILO COOP 100 Symposium that will take place on November 16-17. ILO COOP Manager Simel Esim and CIRIEC International’s General Director Bernard Thiry will reflect on the retrospective issue during a session on November 16 between 17.15-17.30 (CET).