Cooperativism and Population Aging: A Substantive Approach Based on Karl Polanyi

This article aims to understand, from Karl Polanyi's perspective, how cooperativism can contribute to building sustainable solutions to population aging, with an emphasis on rural contexts. The global phenomenon of population aging, characterized by a proportional increase of older adults in the total population due to declining birth rates and increased life expectancy, presents significant and complex challenges, particularly in rural areas where structural weaknesses and the scarcity of effective public policies are more pronounced. In this context, the study argues that cooperativism emerges as a viable and robust alternative for social inclusion, care, and autonomy for older adults. The theoretical framework is anchored in Polanyi's critique of the commodification of social life, particularly his concept of the “disembeddedness” of the economy from the social fabric. The analysis connects Polanyi's principles of reciprocity, redistribution, and domesticity with the core values and principles of cooperativism, highlighting the capacity of this model of economic organization to promote the “re-embedding” of the economy into social norms and values. The study adopts a qualitative, bibliographical, and documentary approach, utilizing data from key national and international organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations (UN), the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), and the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), to characterize the demographic shift and identify the practical role of cooperatives. The analysis presents concrete examples of the actions of different branches of cooperativism in addressing aging in rural areas, accentuating their contribution to the appreciation of traditional knowledge, income generation, and the strengthening of community networks. The findings indicate that cooperativism represents not only an economic response to the challenges of aging but also an integrated and supportive regional development strategy. It is capable of transforming aging into an opportunity for the collective reconstruction of territories, strengthening the dignity and empowerment of older adults by promoting a more socially and environmentally sustainable economic model.