Book excerpt: This textbook is a revised second edition of a "classic" on co-operative law, which has been translated into more than 20 languages. The book integrates an analysis of the 1995 Statement of the Co-operative Identity of the International Co-operative Alliance and the impact of political, economic, and social changes over the past 40 years. The original pattern of the book remains unchanged: Two questions are answered for each of the identified principles: What is the meaning of this co-operative principle? How is this principle translated into co-operative legislation? In this newest edition, two additional questions are discussed and answered for each of the chapters: What are the new development trends and what are the new rules in co-operative legislation? (Series: Economy: Research and Science / Wirtschaft: Forschung und Wissenschaft - Vol. 34) [Subject: Co-operative Law]