The role of ethnocultural factors in the activities of consumer cooperative organizations: The case of the Chuvash Republic

Using the experience of the Chuvashpotrebsoyuz, operating in the Chuvash Republic, this article examines the relationship between the performance of enterprises and organizations of consumer societies in Russia and the relevance of the spiritual and moral foundations of consumer cooperation, the level of development of professional cooperative education, and the ethnocultural characteristics of the region. In examining the problem of preserving the spiritual and moral foundations and social mission of consumer cooperation in modern society, the author draws on an analysis of socio-philosophical, historical, cultural, and economic texts published in Russian and English over the past twenty years, as well as a content analysis of thematic publications in the media and online. The article analyzes the document ”Moral Principles and Rules for Consumer Cooperative Workers”, developed by the Central Union of Consumer Societies of the Russian Federation in 2005, examines the system of cooperative education in the Chuvash Republic, and cites relevant texts from Chuvash folklore. The Chuvash Consumers’ Union’s strong performance is explained by the congruence between its cooperative principles and philosophy and the ethnocultural traditions and characteristics of the Chuvash ethnic mentality. The Chuvash people’s worldview is based on such attitudes and values as collectivism in business and public life, respect for nature and the land, the authority of labor and a good name, keeping one’s word, and responsibility to society. Students at the Cheboksary Cooperative Institute (branch) of the Russian University of Cooperation are introduced to the fundamentals of cooperative professional ethics, the history of the Chuvash consumer cooperative, and the ethnocultural traditions of the Chuvash people in social sciences and humanities classes, as well as through student discussion forums such as the «Sophia School» philosophy club and the Chronicler history club.

1. Centrosoyuz of the Russian Federation. Available at: https://rus.coop (аccessed: 15 October 2025) (in Russian).

2. Borisov V.D. Shared values and a cooperative business code in the organizational culture of consumer cooperation. Problems of Modern Economics. 2012;4(44):170–173 (in Russian).

3. Vakhitov K.I. The history of consumer cooperation in Russia. Moscow, Russia: Publishing and trade corporation “Dashkov and K°”. 2007:400 (in Russian).

4. Golovko V.B. The evolution of cooperative philosophy and the development of consumer credit cooperatives. Universum: Economics and Law. 2015; 7(18). Available at: http://7universum.com/ru/economy/archive/item/2310 (accessed: 15 October 2025) (in Russian).

5. Gurov Yu.S. Philosophical analysis of consumer cooperation problems. Vestnik of the Cheboksary Cooperative Institute. 2008; 2(2):11–14 (in Russian).

6. Ermakov V.F. Social and moral foundations of consumer cooperation: a tutorial. Moscow, Russia: Moscow University of Consumer Cooperatives publishing house; 2003:405 (in Russian).

7. Ismukov N.A. The philosophy of consumer cooperation (moral aspect). In: Development prospects and spiritual and moral foundations of the socio-economic activity of consumer cooperatives: Materials of the Interuniversity scientific-practical conference (26–27 January 2005). Part 1. Cheboksary, Russia: Russika publishing house. 2005:8–14 (in Russian).

8. Anania P., Rwekaza G. C. The determinants of success in agricultural marketing co-operatives in Tanzania: The experience from Mweka Sungu, Mruwia and Uru North Njari agricultural marketing cooperatives in Moshi district. European Journal of Research in Social Sciences. 2016;4(3):62–75. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/306118870 (accessed: 10 October 2025).

9. Develtere P., Pollet I., Wanyama F. (eds.). Cooperating out of poverty: The renaissance of the African cooperative movement. France: International Labour Office World Bank Institute, 2008:372.

10. Egorov V., Inshakov A. Cooperation as an integral part of the social and solidarity economy (SSE). In: SHS Web of Conferences 94(5):01009 «State. Politics. Society»; 2021: 1–9. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348422152_Cooperation_as_an_integral_part_of_the_social_and_solidarity_economy_SSE (accessed: 10 October 2025).

11. Egorov V., Egorova S., Inshakov A., Markarov A. Consumer cooperation as a tool for sustainable rural development. In: E3S Web of Conferences, 208(2):03003;2020:1–8. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/347145372_Consumer_cooperation_as_a_tool_for_sustainable_rural_development (accessed: 10 October 2025).

12. Kumar V., Wankhede K. G., Gena H. C. Role of Cooperatives in Improving Livelihood of Farmers on Sustainable Basis. American Journal of Educational Research. 2015;3(10):1258–1266. Available at: https://www.rfilc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Cooperatives.pdf (accessed: 10 October 2025).

13. Münkner H.-H. Co-Operation as a Remedy in Times of Crisis Agricultural Co-Operatives in the World Their Roles for Rural Development and Poverty Reduction. Euricse Working Paper. 2012;41(12):117. Available at: https://euricse.eu/en/publications/1064-2/ (accessed: 10 October 2025). 244.

14. Petrescu C. The importance of cooperatives in the Romanian society. Calitatea Vietii. 2013;2:213–

15. Tenesgen A. Exploration of the Role of Ethiopia Cooperative Unions in Rural Development and their Challenges. Journal of Agriculture, Food Natural Resources. 2017;1(1):80–88.

16. Zachernuk T., Liu G. Co-operatives and Poverty Reduction in China. In: Gijselinckx C., Zhao L., & Novkovic S. (eds.). Co-operative Innovations in China and the West. Palgrave Macmillan, UK, XV, 2014:179–197. DOI: 10.1057/9781137277282_12.

17. Code of ethical principles and rules in business. Orthodox conversation. 2004;2:39–43 (in Russian).

18. Representatives of the state and the business community supported the set of moral principles. Pravoslavie.ru. 2005; 4 March. Available at: http://www.pravoslavie.ru/12877.html (accessed: 13 October 2025) (in Russian).

19. Chuvashpotrebsoyuz. Available at: https://coop21.ru (accessed: 15 October 2025) (in Russian).

20. Mayer E. The Trust Economy. What is it and how is it measured? National Economy. 2025; 6 January. Available at: https://nationaleconomy.ru/2025/01/06/jekonomika-doverija-chto-jeto-i-kak-ejo-izmerjat (accessed: 15 October 2025) (in Russian).

21. Auzan A. A. Cultural Codes of the Economy: How values affect competition, democracy, and people’s well-being. Moscow: AST Publishing House; 2022:160 (in Russian).

22. Antonova N. The First in Russia! Soviet Chuvashia. 2025; 9 September. Available at: http://sovch.chuvashia.com/?p=286124 (accessed: 15 October 2025) (in Russian).

23. Going to the store for a newspaper. 2018; 6 April. Available at: https://coop21.ru/press-centre/news/za-gazetoy-v-magazin (accessed: 25 October 2025) (in Russian).

24. Cheboksary Cooperative College. Available at: https://21chkt.ru/ (accessed: 20 November 2025) (in Russian).

25. Cheboksary Cooperative Institute (branch) of Russian University of Cooperation. Available at: https://cheb.ruc.su/about/today/ (accessed on 25 November 2025) (in Russian).

26. Popova N. A., Drozdova M. I. Traditions of Practice-oriented Learning as a Competitive Advantage of Cooperative Education. Bulletin of the Siberian University of Consumer Cooperation. 2021;1(35):17–22 (in Russian).

27. Evgrafova T. N. To the question about the ethnocultural identity of the Chuvash people. St. Petersburg State Polytechnical University Journal. Humanities and Social Sciences. 2014;2(196):59–65 (in Russian).

28. Nikitina E. V. Chuvash ethnic mentality: Essence and features. Cheboksary, Russia: Chuvash State University publishing house; 2012:204 (in Russian).

29. Boyko I. I., Kharitonova V. G., Shabunin D. M. (eds.). Chuvash Republic. Sociocultural portrait. Cheboksary, Russia: Chuvash State Institute of Humanities; 2011:192 (in Russian).

30. Chuvash Folk Art. Blessings and Prayers. Сompiled by A. A. Efimova and V. P. Stanyal. Cheboksary: Chuvash Book Publishing House; 2005:446 (in Chuvash).

31. Chuvash Folk Art. Proverbs and Sayings. Сompiled by O.N. Terentyeva. Cheboksary: Chuvash Book Publishing House. 2007:494 (in Chuvash).

32. Nikitina E. V. Worldview and Upbringing Potential of Philosophy and Philosophy Club in Higher Education. Znanie. Ponimanie. Umenie (Knowledge. Understanding. Skill). 2023;3:229–244 (in Russian).

33. Oleg Nikolaev: «Chuvashia’s consumer cooperation is especially important for the life and development of rural areas». Russian Cooperation. 2024; 26 September; 38(1375). Available at: https://rkoop.ru/viewpoints/oleg-nikolaev/potrebkooperatsiya-chuvashii-osobenno-vazhna-dlya-zhizni-i-razvitiya-selskikh-territoriy/ (accessed: 10 October 2025) (in Russian).

34. Nikitina E. V., Mikhailova E. M., Evgrafova T. N., et al. Spiritual and Moral Foundations of Consumer Cooperation in the Light of Ethnocultural Traditions (Using the Activities of Chuvashpotrebsoyuz as an Example). In: Yakhya G. Buchaev, Arsen S. Abdulkadyrov, Julia V. Ragulina, Arutyun A. Khachaturyan and Elena G. Popkova (eds.) Challenges of the Modern Economy: Digital Technologies, Problems, and Focus Areas of the Sustainable Development of Country and Regions, Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation, Springer, Cham. 2023:279–282. DOI: 10. 1007/978-3-031-29364-1_55.

35. Milyukova T. V., Ponomarenko A. A. Ethnocultural Identity in the Preparation of a Future Specialist for Work in Multicultural Conditions. Vestnik of North-Eastern Federal University. Pedagogics. Psychology. Philosophy. 2025:40(4):57–66. DOI: 10.25587/2587-5604-2025-4-57-66.