The Role of the Central Cooperative Council in Reorganising the Czechoslovak Consumer Cooperatives in 1951-1954
Abstract
This paper analyses the role of the Central Cooperative Council ("ÚRD") in discussing and implementing the reorganisation of the consumer cooperatives systém in 1951-1954, as a result of which the system was completely changed, fully adopting the Soviet models. The analysis was based especially on archival materials created by the Central Committee of the Czechoslovak Communist Party and by cooperatives, which today provide us with an insight into the whole process, especially from the viewpoint of the ÚRD.
The paper assesses the role the ÚRD played in the reorganisation process and gives a detailed history of their standpoints and activities through which they tried to avert or slow the cooperative transformation process. It also describes the principles and performance of the cooperative reorganisation and also shows the real role of the Central Cooperative Council at this stage of the totalitarian regime in Czechoslovakia.