The author would like to express his debt to Dr. A. F. Laidlaw, whose advice and assistance over many years contributed greatly to the preparation of this paper and to Professor D. G. G. Kerr who directed a thesis on which this essay is partly based. He also appreciates having received the constructive criticisms of Dr. C. Armstrong of York University, who commented on the paper when it was presented at the Atlantic Studies Conference in the Spring of 1974. Finally, the author acknowledges with thanks the support of the Canada Council which made possible a series of interviews with cooperative leaders in the Maritimes.