Abstract

The paper analyses Hermann Schulze-Delitsch s contribution to the cooperative idea and economic thought of the second half of the 19th century Schulze-Delitsch has recently been described as a leftish liberal at the exhibition about the German Labour Movement in Mannheim s Technomuseum 2013 but was placed more centre with publications under the hospice of the Friedrich Naumann Stiftung During his life 1808-1883 he became the founder of cooperatives in Germany and various forms of associations Schulze-Delitsch placed the main emphasis on self-help to deflect the danger that the industrialisation posed to small and medium sized companies It is shown that liberal ideas were the main Leitmotifs for Schulze-Delitsch s cooperatives The paper illustrates Schulze-Delitzsch s position with regards to trade unions wage funds and political economy