I don't know about other countries, but in the US both "condominium" and "cooperative" are considered different types of legal ownership of a property. Most are multifamily dwellings (apartments either within high-rise single buildings or smaller, shorter "garden-style" buildings); condominium unit ownership may also be seen in other connected buildings such as townhouses or even "patio homes" or "villas") rather than single-family homes.
Around this country, but especially in highly-populated urban areas, purchasing a condominium (townhouse, apartment, whatever) is definitely different from purchasing the rights to own and live in a cooperative dwelling. In NYC, for example, especially in Manhattan and the five boroughs, there are a lot of Condominiums (condos) and also Cooperatives (co-ops) and, yes, with regard to legal documentation and operation, each type of ownership is distinctly different. In addition of course there are some similarities but also of necessity differences in the approach to how these dwellings are managed.
I can only speak from my particular experience, of course. In my condominium community there are fourteen buildings, each building consisting of fourteen units of different square footage) in what is often referred to as a "garden-style" layout (usually only about four floors altogether, and no elevator) and each unit has a balcony, deck or patio to provide extra access to the outdoors. We are surrounded by lovely landscaping around each building and ample common grounds. It's all very delightful, but yes, we pay for this!
Not far from me there are also condominium high-rise buildings, too, with their own set of challenges for everyone who buys and lives in a condo unit in that building. In my area (I'm in the suburbs of Washington, DC), there really are few (if any? I really don't know, to be honest) buildings or communities which are Co-ops as opposed to Condominium or other type of ownership. I think that is definitely more of an actual urban city type of scenario and I believe that yes, there are at least some Co-ops in DC. At least in the US, the terminology is important, too, in order to differentiate Co-op ownership from Condominium ownership from fee-simple ownership in single-family dwellings, etc., etc.
Anyway, in general, regardless of what type of ownership is prevalent in a particular community, as I have experienced over the years that I have lived here, it absolutely can be challenging when it comes to making group choices and expressing concerns about how a community is being managed!
Regardless of what the type of ownership (or residency) is called, everyone who lives in a multifamily dwelling situation really does need to cooperate with everyone else in order to have a comfortable living environment!
