Illusion and reality

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Germany views its cooperative system as central to the international cooperative movement, claiming that towns like Delitzsch, Flammersfeld, and Weyerbusch are the origins of the cooperative idea. However, Kaltenborn debunks these claims with extensive documentation, demonstrating that the concept of cooperatives has existed throughout human history. Even Neanderthals exhibited cooperative behavior during hunts, and various forms of cooperatives were present in ancient Europe and the Middle Ages, knowledge that Schulze-Delitzsch was aware of. The modern era saw increased literary and theoretical interest in cooperatives, culminating in the establishment of a consumer cooperative by the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers in 1844, whose principles still guide the International Co-operative Alliance today. Shortly thereafter, Schulze-Delitzsch and Raiffeisen developed their own cooperative models, each with broader socio-political objectives beyond mere cooperation. Germany is now seeking UNESCO recognition for the cooperative idea as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. While this request is not inherently objectionable, it is problematic due to the incorrect assertion that the cooperative idea originated in Germany with Schulze-Delitzsch and Raiffeisen. In reality, the cooperative concept is universal and inherently belongs to the intangible cultural heritage of humanity, independent of any formal declaration.