Voluntary and Open Membership and the decisions of the Courts in Brazil

  • Mario De Conto Faculdade de Tecnologia do Cooperativismo – ESCOOP
Keywords: cooperative, membership, restrictions

Abstract

This study analyzes the legal content of the Principle of Open and Voluntary membership in Brazilian law, examining the requirements established by the legislation to be a member of the Cooperative, as well as the possibilities of restricting the entry of new members and the decision-making of higher courts regarding the theme. In Brazilian law, the legislation gives Cooperatives the prerogative of not accepting new members, even in the case of candidates for associates who fulfill the legal and statutory requirements to associate, whenever there is «technical impossibility of providing services.» The analysis of the decision-making discourse of the Superior Court of Justice revealed the recognition by the Court of the Cooperative Principle of Open and Voluntary Adhesion, rejecting the establishment of discriminatory and arbitrary requirements as conditions of admission to Cooperatives.

Received: 30 May 2017
Accepted: 01 September 2017
Published online: 22 December 2017

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Author Biography

Mario De Conto, Faculdade de Tecnologia do Cooperativismo – ESCOOP
Doutor em Direito. Coordenador de Ensino, Pesquisa e Extensão da Faculdade de Tecnologia do Cooperativismo – ESCOOP. Professor de Direito Cooperativo em cursos de graduação e pós-graduação. Advogado. Gerente Jurídico do Sistema OCERGS-SESCOOP/RS.
Published
2017-12-22
How to Cite
De Conto, Mario. 2017. “Voluntary and Open Membership and the Decisions of the Courts in Brazil”. International Association of Cooperative Law Journal, no. 51 (December), 167-78. https://doi.org/10.18543/baidc-51-2017pp167-178.