I've been in involved in co-operatives of one kind or another since the mid-1970s. Probably others here have been in co-ops longer than I have.

Canada's co-operative movement is on the rise (2013) (rabble.ca)

When Workers Own Their Companies, Everyone Wins (newrepublic.com)

How a very old economic model could help the new economy

More horizontal, less siloed, management style is more and more the norm. However, when push comes to shove, the hierarchy asserts itself. Few organizations are truly non-hierarchical.

There is a failure to distinguish between leadership and hierarchy.

And between hierarchy and concentration of power (and exploitation). I think you are implying the latter, and I agree.

As for hierarchy, I'm not in favour of organizations that put it above practical structure, and I think too many are needlessly top-heavy, but most organizations simply can't function without one at a certain point. That's not actually a bad thing, because there is no organization without specific people who have a great deal of power (like the book keeper, or the one looking after inventory), or people who exert it. And then there's the natural jealousy, territorialism, and greater and lesser involvement that happens in all organizations. So the potential for that exploitation is there in an ad hoc way even where there is little formal structure.

Like many here, I am sure, I have several personal experiences with collective and cooperative organizations that suffered badly from lack of structure. I still think that if one is working in a group and not alone, a collective structure is the best way. The thing is striking the right balance.

In the experience of many, hierarchy represents a seemingly intractable legacy issue.  Hierarchy is present whenever you have a number of problems defying solutions because the hierarchy's interests are at stake.  It's when collective solutions run up against barricades and logical, collective decision making goes out the window.  Assigning an implementer of collective decision making is different than a class of deciders who impose themselves and won't go away.

That is true, though that class can assert itself just as easily, and sometimes moreso, when there is no adequate structure in place.

Another model, not strictly cooperative, that is growing is the Urban Reserve:

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/urban-reserves-successful-in-sask...

U.S. Rust Belt Survival Strategy: Giving Workers Control:

http://www.yesmagazine.org/commonomics/this-rust-belt-town-s-survival-st...

A traditional cooperative institution: irrigation in Bali, going for a millenium or so:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9ozS8BKUFI

Problems of socialism - "Inside Spain's Utopia" (Marinaleda village in Andalusia):

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2016/04/spain-utopia-160418120...

Apparently a "cult of personality" in a nominal cooperative. There are reasons why some attempts at practical socialism emphasize democracy, for example the Israeli kibbutzim and in the U.S.

http://www.thefec.org

http://www.twinoaks.org

coming up on 49 years.

I don't think that there are any magic solutions to the question of hierarchy.    I just think that it's a continual and ongoing process of overthrowing them whenever they occur.

The criticism was very weak, nothing more than a bit of gossip. It seems most people living there are very satisfied which isn't to say they couldn't improve. Within the article they acknowledge that they are far better off than the surrounding areas. So maybe it isn't utopia, but that is a goal rather than a destination that we will ever reach.

Not everyone wants to live in a full on commune. The great thing about democracy is that people are free to set up their communities however they please.

We could transform Canada if we choose to. The biggest problem we have is not the media or the government. Most people are relatively content with the status quo, or don't know how or where to channel their discontent. The biggest problem we have is our failure to deliver the message in a manner that people can and are willing to absorb.

sure pondering....whatever you say....unless we are a community you don't like or a cooperative model which supports a community you think should be eliminated...just saying....it's kind of ironic you would say this

just sayin...i think this post of yours crossed a boundary and is close to targeted stalking.

you came into a thread, made no comment on it and attacked pondering for her opinion. like wtf?

Just because people associate with one another or have the same perspective on a topic doesn't make it a community. For example, fast food workers are not a community.

Perhaps I should have added "as long as they are not breaking the laws of the country the community is in". Nothing in the current laws on prostitution prevent prostitutes from using a cooperative approach.

http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/new-extreme-massage-parlour-worries-plateau-r...

“They have a permit under personal care, but we're wondering what kind of personal care is needed in a residential area 24 hours a day,” said Amy Lilien, who owns a property near the business, which is on Roy St. between St. Dominique and St. Laurent Sts.

LIlien noted that the online application form for Extreme Massage requires applicants who want to be 'extreme girls’ provide their height, weight and photos – but no proof of certification in massage therapy.

“We're wondering why they're looking for ‘extreme girls’ and not certified massage therapists,” she said.

Lilien and other residents in the area fear Extreme Massage – adjacent to a daycare and a children's park – will only add to gang-related problems they've already seen in their neighbourhood.

Going to have to work to get that place shut down but if it located itself in a non-residencial spot it would probably survive. It's nothing a bunch of enterprising sex workers who want to start a cooperative couldn't do. They could even advertise. They could also form a cooperative Escort Service. So just go ahead and start up a cooperative. You can even advertise that you are setting up a coop Escort Service to let women who want to get involved get together. All an Escort Service needs is a small office with a receptionist and a website with pictures. It should be really easy in Vancouver. You can even get a few shared apartments.

So go ahead Susan. You want to start a coop, do it. You won't be breaking the law as long as you don't advertise prostitution. Given that this is such a lucrative profession collecting enough to start up shouldn't be a problem. You are a "community" so communication shouldn't be a problem.

we did start a cooperative..... the first in canada.....

and you telling me how to do it is ludicris.....you are the expert on how to open an agency...you know all about it.....

tell the workers in calgary who were just arrested about how they can......

Not everyone wants to live in a full on commune. The great thing about democracy is that people are free to set up their communities however they please....

...I nearly fell off my chair reading this one...thankfully the system has very successful efficient ways of turning people off the idea, or once established, corrupting people out of it.....and if that doesn't work, they just bring in their authorities, the regional districts and provincial agencies, the social workers...or if you're far enough removed, they'll just log and mine poison you out...

...the great thing about democracy? I was curious to know which part of the planet you're from to experience democracy!!

Joseph Stiglitz proposes co-op models as an alternative to trickle-down economics:

http://www.thenews.coop/110090/news/business/joseph-stiglitz-proposes-co...

and

https://www.sommetinter.coop/en

"Is hierachy the enemy of co-operation?"

I wouldn't say the question is answered, but it's used as a jumping-off point for a useful review and discussion:

http://www.thenews.coop/112205/news/co-operatives/hierachy-enemy-co-oper...

Funny what we think about. But I was just pondering this.  

 Could Beethoven's works be produced by a cooperative committee ?

Would the name Beethoven mean anything if it was only up to Ludwig himself?

Communes were probably a great idea back when everyone in a certain area worshipped the same God, had the same priorities, ate the same food and followed the same ruler.