Abstract: The catastrophe of Konsum Austria in spring 1995 put an end to the alliance between this large but ailing consumer cooperative and the Swiss Migros group. The circumstances of this tragic event illustrate that cooperation between cooperatives should either be based on an equal footing between partners of approximately equal strength and in good economic health or that it should openly reflect large differences in economic status.

　　Subjects: CONSUMER cooperatives; INTERNATIONAL cooperation; SOCIAL status