What is co-operation ? Discuss various processes of co-operation.

1. Co-operation is derived from two Latin words ‘Co’ means together and ‘Operari’ means to work.

2. Co-operation is an associative social process. It is an essential part of a society—a society cannot exist without co-operation among individuals.

3. Co-operation may be found in a small group consistin of two members.

Example : For instance, husband and wife cooperate with each other. It is the basis of family formation in a society. At the same time, cooperation may be found in a large group like the United Nations.

4. Among the primitive societies the forms of co-operation are generally ‘traditional’ in nature—their co-operation is often without any conscious effort.

5. In modern society people generally carry out eleboarte plan for deliberate co-operative activities.

6. Under co-operation, people regard each other's wishes and carry out activities unitedly.

II. Various Forms of Co-operation :

1. Co-operation is found in primary groups (such as family) and secondary groups (such as trade Union).

(a) Co-operation in primary group is based on blood relations, emotions and mutual obligations. Every individual becomes a part of many small groups and adjusts himself in the co-operative group life.

(b) Everyone tries to adjust himself in the family, recreation groups, work groups, etc... and finds satisfaction in groups life through the give and take relationship.

(c) Among the kins, duties, responsibilities, help and co-operation are based on the feeling of mutual obligations.

(d) The person who cannot take part in cooperative activities successfully may be isolated from group life.

(e) Hortin and Hunt (1972) observe that cooperation is vital not merely in primary group, but it is closely related to secondary group also.

(f) Most large organisations are networks of smaller primary groups in which co-operation functions on a face-to-face basis involving several highly personal relationships.

2. (a) Co-operation in secondary groups is based on a definite objective and collective interest. Impersonal nature of co-operation is found in such groups.

(b) In the large economic, political, administrative, religious and governmental organisation, members do not even known each other but they co-operate with one another. For instance, the management, administration, protection, distribution and sale of cloth manufactured, in a textile company is largely based on secondary co-operation among a large number of worker, employees, officers, engineers, managers and directors. They do not evn have personal contact and do not know each other but their co-operation helps the organisation in meeting its annual target of cloth production and also making profit.

The above two forms of co-operation, namely primary group co-operation and secondary group co-operation and principally based on two basic kinds of relationships. The first one can be termed as direct co-operation and the second one can be called as indirect co-operation.

3. Direct co-operation is seen in the closed social groups who are related with each other through blood ties, as in the case of family, lineage, class groups, kin-groups, etc. The members living in these social groups have intimacy and co-operation on the basis of love, affection, duties, responsibilities, obligations through their different kinds of roles within the respective social structure.

4. In some societies there are systems of barter exchange and reciprocity. These are forms of co-operation among the members of these societies in the economic field. Such co-operation is guided by customs, traditions and folkways.

5. Traditionally Indian caste system was functioning on the basis of Jajmani system. This was a type of co-operation among various caste groups. There was interdependence among the different castes on the basis of contribution they made to the life of each other.

6. The co-operation and interdependence in caste are based on traditions and customs. The Brahmans (ब्राह्मण) offer priestly services to all castes of the village and in return they receive agricultural products from the agriculturist castes, clothes from weavers caste, iron tools from blacksmith, earthen pots from potter, etc. All these non Brahman castes by following this tradition, exchange their goods and services among themselves.