A Perspective on “Imece” and “Cooperative” Culture in Turks

Turkish geography in terms of socio-economic and socio-cultural aspects, are miniatures of Turkish civilization. We see that the culture of “imece” has come into play as an example of solidarity in rural areas, which constitute the cornerstone of Turkish geography and where the power of the state cannot reach. “Imece which is defined as “the gathering of many people and performing the work of a person or a community together and thus finishing the works in order”; It partially complies with the applications in the Anatolian geography. Some definitions will be made without examining the site; The culture of the “salma-salvage” function, which is defined as “collecting money from every house by the decision of the elderly committee to see the works in the villages”, is mixed with the solidarity of imam. As there is no coercion in the living “imece” culture, it is usually a collaboration based on voluntary aid to the person who feels the need. On the other hand, “Cooperatives” emerged as a search for solidarity and mutual aid in order to solve the problems arising from the livelihoods and working conditions of the working class after the French revolution and spread to all countries of the World. The first cooperative in the field of consumption was founded by 28 weaving workers in England as “Rochdale pioneers” in 1844 and applied the basic rules adopted by the International Cooperatives Association (ICA) as principles of cooperatives. Known as the first cooperative established in Turkey, “the ark of the Homeland” organization close to two out of the past century when, although we are not able to say that cooperatives Umeda received adequate road. An agricultural country as defined in Turkey, Turkish society is at the core of “shared work” desired revitalizing the cultural development of cooperatives should be provided.