Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics 74:4 2003 pp. 553–584 THE INTERNATIONALISATION OF COOPERATIVES: THE CASE OF THE MONDRAGON COOPERATIVE CORPORATION* by Anjel Mari ERRASTI** Institute of Cooperative Law and Social Economy, School of Business Science, The University of the Basque Country, San Sebastia´n, Spain In˜aki HERAS School of Business Science, The University of the Basque Country Baleren BAKAIKOA Institute of Cooperative Law and Social Economy, Faculty of Law, The University of the Basque Country and Pilar ELGOIBAR School of Business Science, The University of the Basque Country Received December 2002; final version accepted May 2003 ABSTRACT***: This paper outlines the internationalisation process of cooperatives in an economic environment determined by economic globalisation. The analysis is focused on the Mondragon Cooperative Corporation (MCC) in the Basque Country which is a point of reference for participatory enterprises all over the world. MCC is currently adapting to changing market conditions and pursuing a strategy of direct investment (joint ventures, greenfield investment and acquisitions) in priority international markets. Thus, the first part of the study is about the current situation: the * This research was undertaken with support from the Gipuzkoako Foru Aldundia, in collaboration with the European Union, and the University of the Basque Country, within the projects UE02/B10 and 1/UPV 00166.251-H- 15419/2003. ** Corresponding author:
[email protected] *** Re´sume´ en fin d’article; Zusammenfassung am Ende des Artikels; resu´men al fin del artı´culo. #CIRIEC 2003. Published by Blackwell Publishing, 9600 Garsington Road, Oxford OX4 2DQ, UK and 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148, USA 554 A.M.