"The author has to be commended for undertaking this most analytical and useful work. Indeed it is a welcome addition to the literature on cooperatives." --National cooperative Development Corporation Bulletin "This study offers a practical lesson in the process of exploring the strategy for improving the general performance of village co-operatives. In that sense the book is highly valuable1⁄4. It provides a unique reference for guiding researchers, planners, policy makers, leaders and managers." --Deccan Herald "This is a book which is a must for all co-operators." --Kisan World "Tushaar Shah's book Making Farmers' Co-operative Work sparkles. For seldom do books on cooperatives go beyond a stereotyped pile up of facts and observations loosely held together with the glue of analysis relating to a few successful cases instead of undertaking a broad, incisive and complete study... The writer adroitly infuses new thinking and concept into his work with an immaculate sense of timing and the touch of an artist... [At] a time when cooperatives are subjected to pressures of the new economic policy, policy makers, planners and leaders can make ample use of ideas expressed by the author in designing a cooperative. The type of methodology used by the author can be used for the study of coops in other states and also different types of cooperatives. This will not only enhance the value of this work, but also provide a fertile ground for testing his theories, views and theses." --The Cooperator Making Farmers' Cooperatives Work offers an alternative approach to the study of cooperatives and presents a new theory, based on empirical evidence to explain why cooperatives and village organizations succeed or fail. The author, Tushaar Shah presents his theoretical framework in a concise manner, analyzing the performance and limitations of a village cooperative based on a review of 50 case studies. This model has advantages over existing approaches because of its emphasis on central tendencies rather than on extremes, for its explanation of both successes and failures, and for bringing the members of cooperatives to the center of the inquiry, thus offering them a guide for positive action. Students and academics interested in regional development, cooperatives, management studies, organizational behavior, rural development, economics, policy studies, and sociology will find Making Farmers' Cooperatives Work useful and it's approach unique in the way it analyzes, taking a systems view of the cooperative enterprise.