This book begins with ‘ways of seeing' the lives and times of religious and other organisations as instances of cultural creativity, and as rival clusters of social potential. It tells the story of class conflict over forms of association - for example between the Friendly Societies and the private insurance industry since National Insurance began with Lloyd George in 1911. Stephen uses his experience at Ruskin College to think practically as well as historically about co-operative schools, ‘access' to Higher Education and the idea of a co-operative university. The book ends by suggesting ways forward for Co-operative Studies and co-operative politics – examining the obstacles and opportunities facing twenty-first century Co-operative and Mutual Enterprise.