The International Co-operative Alliance During War and Peace 1910-1950: Second Edition

Based extensively on ICA archive materials, and running to some 100,000 words, this book charts the ICA's course through the two World Wars and the Cold War which posed the greatest threats to it. It suggests two overarching reasons for the ICA's ability to survive. One was the ICA's organisation, meaning its Constitution plus the functioning of its authorities, namely the Congress, Central and Executive Committees, General Secretary and Secretariat. The Constitution was characterised by ideological consistency: a cohesive membership due to the predominance of consumer co-operative movements, clear measures of accountability and control, and durability. The second main reason was the ICA's ideology, including adherence to Cooperative, or Rochdale Principles, advocacy of a co-operative social ownership, political neutrality, and an active pro-peace policy.

The book also suggests lesser reasons for the ICA's survival including the location of its Secretariat in a country that was not invaded but was also home to its largest voluntary cooperative movement which also happened to be the one with the closest historical and geographical links with the Rochdale Pioneers.

It concludes by noting that the Alliance's survival later enabled it to play an important part in third world co-operative development.