In a celebration of the International Day of South-South Solidarity, the “Global Solidarity Talks” program, an initiative of the Global Solidarity Network, hosted a cultural salon titled “Cooperatives in the Global South.” This event was held in conjunction with the United Nations’ declaration of 2025 as the Year of Cooperatives, under the theme “Cooperatives: The United Voice of the Global South for a Sustainable Future.”
The salon featured Dr. Mohamed Abdel-Hakim Ibrahim, Chairman of the Social and Cooperative Economy Network for the Middle East and North Africa and author of “Cooperatives and Questions of Development,” as the main speaker. The event was also attended by researcher Hassan Ghazali, founder of the Global Solidarity Network, and Dr. Sally Saad, an international expert and consultant in communication and public relations, and a public relations lecturer at Al Jazeera High Institute for Media and Communication, who served as commentators. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Mohamed Sayyaf, Assistant Professor (Senior Researcher) at the Agricultural Economics Research Institute and the Agricultural Research Center.
Cooperatives: The Humanization of Economics
Dr. Mohamed Abdel-Hakim Ibrahim opened his address at the “Cooperatives in the Global South” salon by asking the audience: “Why do we need cooperatives? And what form of cooperatives do we need?” He emphasized that any developmental work is not limited to economic dimensions of returns and progress but extends to include cultural, intellectual, and scientific development, stressing the need to distinguish between economic growth and comprehensive development.
In this context, Abdel-Hakim discussed the concept of the Social and Cooperative Economy as an attempt to answer a central question: “Can there be an economy that is more closely tied to humanity?” This is what the economic thinker Samir Amin referred to as the “humanization of economics.” He explained that the social and cooperative economy represents an approach that focuses on meeting human, social, and environmental needs, rather than pursuing maximum profit. It is based on the values of solidarity, mutual responsibility, and democratic governance. This economy takes various forms, including:
* Agricultural, worker, and housing cooperatives.
* Charitable associations and non-profit organizations.
* Community enterprises.
He also stressed that implementing this model requires integrated steps at the political, legislative, and societal levels, asserting that the social and cooperative economy has the potential to be a key driver of sustainable development, job creation, improved living standards, and the reduction of social inequalities.
Cooperatives: A Human Response to the Problems of the Industrial Revolution
Dr. Abdel-Hakim reviewed the origins of the global cooperative movement, affirming that it was not merely an economic idea but a direct human response to the challenges posed by the Industrial Revolution in Europe. He explained that the transition of societies from rural areas to cities and the rise of a capitalist system based on profit without regard for the social dimension created a wide gap between capital owners and workers.
He added that the capitalist economy at the time failed to absorb the large numbers of workers, leading to widespread poverty, exploitation, and deteriorating living conditions. This highlighted the need for an economic alternative that placed people at its core. Thus, cooperatives emerged, establishing firm principles and values that included: open and voluntary membership, democratic control, member economic participation, autonomy and independence, education and training, cooperation among cooperatives, and concern for the community. He emphasized that these principles were not just slogans but formed a roadmap for establishing economic entities capable of serving their members and communities sustainably.
Dr. Abdel-Hakim also touched upon ownership models, pointing out that cooperatives represent a unique model of collective ownership, distinct from public (state) and private (individual) ownership. In this context, he reviewed a number of successful local cooperative experiences in Egypt’s agricultural sector, which have proven effective in improving farmers’ lives and increasing their productivity.
Cooperatives: A Driving Force for Development
For his part, Dr. Mohamed Sayaf, Assistant Professor (Senior Researcher) at the Agricultural Economics Research Institute and Agricultural Research Center and coordinator of the Global South Solidarity School, emphasized in his speech the great importance of economic and social cooperatives, noting their diverse forms in Egypt. He pointed out that agricultural cooperatives alone have benefited nearly 12.5 million individuals, in addition to craft and consumer cooperatives, among others.
Sayaf expanded his discussion to include international experiences in Global South countries, stating that many were inspired by the Egyptian experience in the 1960s, especially countries of the Non-Aligned Movement that sought to break free from colonial capitalist dominance. In this context, he reviewed Tanzania’s experience in the late 1960s and early 1970s, which saw a remarkable developmental leap thanks to its reliance on cooperatives. He also noted President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s interest in cooperative legislation and their establishment, explaining that the true guarantee for the sustainability of projects serving 23 different sectors lies in the existence of strong and effective cooperatives.
Media Cooperatives: A Unified Voice for the Global South
In her commentary, Dr. Sally Saad stressed the importance of establishing what she called “media cooperatives” among Global South countries, describing them as “the unified voice of the Global South.” She sees them as a tool to bridge the media gap and enhance the presence of Global South issues amid rapidly accelerating global interconnections.
Dr. Saad explained that these cooperatives enable the production of original and reliable content that reflects local community issues away from distortion. They also provide a platform for exchanging experiences and knowledge among media professionals and pooling resources to enhance shared media capabilities. She also reviewed the main challenges facing this model in Global South countries, which include: the media gap and marginalization of issues, the dominance of external agendas, weak resources, and technological challenges.
She concluded by presenting the experience of the Climate Journalists Network in Africa (ACJN) as a successful model for regional media cooperation on climate issues, affirming that establishing such cooperatives is a strategic step to regain control over the media narrative and enhance the presence of Global South countries on the international stage.
For his part, researcher Hassan Ghazaly confirmed that the Global Solidarity Network serves as an umbrella for several projects launched cumulatively since 2012, with the aim of promoting a spirit of joint action and consolidating the values of solidarity in its various forms. He explained that some of the most prominent projects reflecting the diversity of activities and the vision aimed at fostering dialogue and communication include: the African Union Simulation Model, the “Afro-Media” initiative, the “Bozoor” project for public culture, the Global South Solidarity School, the National Project for Awareness of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), the Solidarity of Nile Basin Peoples Project, and the “Global Solidarity Talks” program.
The salon saw wide engagement from the attendees, who contributed with various interventions and inquiries, reviewing cooperative experiences from Global South countries like China.
