The Red and White Cooperative Program launched by the Indonesian government is a highly meaningful initiative. On one hand, it promises to empower grassroots economies, revive the spirit of mutual cooperation in villages, and realize the long-mandated democratic economic ideals of our constitution. On the other hand, any government program that directly interacts with the broader community cannot be separated from the complex political dynamics that might shape, or even alter, the essence of its noble goals.
The history of cooperatives in Indonesia, and in many parts of the world, is a tale of grassroots initiative. It was born from a collective awareness of communities facing common hardships, uniting to overcome economic difficulties, fend off usurers, or simply gain fairer access to basic necessities. The spirit of mutual
