The Impact of Social Participation of Rural Community on Success of Rural Production Cooperatives: A Case Study of Isfahan County

This study aimed at investigating the relationship between participation of rural production cooperative members and managers and its impact on their success in Isfahan county of Iran with 19 such cooperatives facing participation crisis. The research population included all these cooperatives according to a census of rural cooperatives in Isfahan county. A systematic random sampling method was used to interview all the cooperative managers and board of directors as well as 260 rural cooperative members. Results of regression analysis by using three separate questionnaires showed a strong relation between the participation of members and the success of the cooperatives. In addition, the study results showed that the member's participation in the management of cooperatives was moderate. So, the effect in question was found quite significant.