In 2012 Ethical Consumer launched an essay prize based on the question 'Is there a co-operative alternative to capitalism'. 2012 was the International Year of Co-operatives but it was also a year when the clamour of serious questions about capitalism was getting louder. Europe and America were, and still are, facing their worst economic crises for a generation, 'occupy' movements around the world are calling for sweeping social reforms, and scientists and academics point to increasingly dangerous levels of climate and habitat destruction.
The winning essay can be found here [link].