It’s Co-operatives Week in Canada and I wanted to share a theory that’s been on my mind for a few years. I think that the hit action movie franchise John Wick is a story about an assassins’ co-operative. From unique currency exchanged by members to serious rules about membership, the world seems to show off many attributes of the co-operative business model. Given all the – ahem – murder in these films, though, it is obviously a bit of a stretch to argue that all the co-operative principles and the values they espouse are fully at play. Here are seven reasons why the John Wick universe is probably co-operative.
The co-operative question
Shea Serrano is one of my favourite authors and he recently launched a six-episode podcast called “With a Pencil” that deep dives into the John Wick universe. He ends episodes with this question: “What would you like to know more about in the John Wick universe?” Shea and his guests typically focus on character-driven elements of the films, such as “where is John from?” and “will Halle Barry’s character return?”. Sometimes, though, there’s a focus on systems of governance and where this network of assassins exists in our world – “how do the gold coins get converted into actual currency?” and “what are the power structures of the Continental hotel chain within this criminal underworld?” are examples of this sort of thinking.
What I really want to know is whether the John Wick universe is co-operative. Let’s explore this theory by walking the films through the seven co-operative principles.
Open and voluntary membership
Co-ops are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership.
“Willing to accept the responsibilities of membership” strikes a chord when we think about the different kinds of players in the John Wick universe. Folks with many different skills, interests and backgrounds have opted into this criminal underworld to create value for members (and themselves). Next-level assassins are not the only members of this possibly co-operative community. Members take responsibility to deliver above-and-beyond concierge service, route calls and process data in a switchboard operations center, repair vehicles, outfit assassins for missions, pour drinks, and provide post-battle cleanup services.
It takes a certain kind of person to accept the responsibilities of membership in this universe, but it’s clear that many kinds of folks are open to owning aspects of this organization.
Democratic member control
Co-operatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members.
While the precise ownership structure is unclear (is the High Table an apex co-op of all the regional co-ops?!), what is obvious is how much democracy factors into decision-making in the John Wick universe. By the end of Chapter 2, John Wick is deemed “Excommunicado” because he broke an unbreakable rule and killed Santino at the New York Continental. Yielding to the democratic rules of the community’s members (and the underworld’s storied history) Winston, the New York Continental’s proprietor, relieves John of his access to the organization’s services around the world.
Of course, John takes the revoking of his membership as a fun challenge and then gets into a motorcycle chase and a horse chase within about 75 minutes of being kicked out of the organization. The John Wick story focuses on the reactions and consequences of someone putting their own interests and needs above those of the entire membership. I’m grateful that none of the Vancouver Tool Library member-owners pursue me into the night when my annual membership lapses and I borrow a hacksaw from my neighbour instead of their enterprise.
Members’ economic participation
Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their co-operative.
Mysterious gold coins are used to procure specific goods and services within the criminal underworld. The unique currency that connects cleaners, mechanics and hospitality workers was the clue that got me started on this wild theory of the John Wick universe being co-operative. The Ringer’s Matt Hartman wrote an article about the nuances of Wickian currency, but it’s Miles Surrey’s gem of a comment that presents an interesting theory about what the messy, imperfect gold coins could mean: “All these services typically have the same fixed cost, which seems illogical but perhaps speaks to the franchise’s intent to focus on the power of the individual instead of accrued wealth for better services.”
Sure, it seems weird that two nights accommodation in New York, a Negroni and removing 12 bodies from a home are all worth two gold coins (Keanu’s character pays for all these services with two coins). But through these examples a strange and imperfect case for equity and value is being made that might be an effort to highlight co-operative currency options (or at least alternatives to the current system).
Autonomy and independence
Co-operatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members.
“But, like, where are all the police?” Is a phrase that most rational people with whom I’ve watched a John Wick movie utter during one of the many over-the-top, very-much-in-public action sequences. John and his colleagues/rivals operate beyond the scope of most societal conventions and rules. The independence of co-operatives is one of the things that can make them powerful, especially when they’re well-financed, as is the case with the network of Continental Hotels.
Autonomy is also a cultural attribute of this world. Proprietors of Continental Hotels have immense power in their realm, which is checked by the High Table and its central power. Work – in the form of assassination contracts – is bid on my members of the community and, theoretically, they can choose to take or turn down assignments by asserting their independence. And, while it’s not easy to leave this criminal underworld, it is possible (according to Reddit).
Education, training and information
Co-operatives provide education and training for their members.
The Sommelier in John Wick: Chapter 2, who outfits John for his mission in Rome, represents the kind of learning and knowledge that experts in this world share with members. Bartenders and concierges pass on wisdom and important information to advance John’s mission (and the movie’s plot). John Wick teaches people ruthless and devastating lessons all the time. Rules – and the history behind them all – are constantly reinforced through peer-coaching (Winston to John), formal learning (High Table to John) and experiential learning (John being pursued by every single assassin after being declared excommunicado).
As with any strong co-operative, learning features prominently in this criminal underworld. Just think about how much John Wick has learned about himself during the three or four weeks that the three films take place over!
Cooperation among cooperatives
Co-operatives service their members most effectively and strengthen the co-operative movement by working together through local, national, regional, and international structures.
Yes. There was harmony in this world until an ill-informed and entitled son-of-a-Russian-mob-boss assaulted John Wick, stole his car and killed his dog, which set off an unprecedented chain of events that I can only assume will culminate with John and his rag-tag collection of allies burning down the whole system. Before this happened, the various regional networks – represented by the various Continental establishments like the one in New York – worked together to advance the mandate, services and rules of the assassins’ network.
The Bowery King, played by Lawrence Fishburne, leverages his extensive network of homeless hitmen in co-operation with John’s campaign against his enemies. While these efforts flout the High Table’s rules, it certainly captures how different co-operative networks within the criminal underworld support each other to advance a larger cause (John Wick’s revenge/justice).
Concern for community
Co-operatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members.
Maybe? John is concerned with the wellbeing of people who paid him kindnesses over the year as well as animals, especially dogs. He is not concerned with the wellbeing of his enemies. Perhaps an over-arching, big-picture case can be made for an underground network of assassins “balancing the ledger” of morality around the world to mitigate the risk of violence between rival gangs spilling over into the streets of every day society. This is a stretch to be sure; however, when Cassian, played by Common, and John are dueling in public with silenced pistols and knives they take great care to not harm bystanders.
Clearly, this criminal underworld strives to keep regular folks like us out of the conflict and away from the violence wherever and whenever possible. We simply must enjoy this co-operative action experience on screen.
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I originally wrote this ridiculous article on October 16, 2019