Historical research on commons primarily focused on the long-term collective use and management of physical resources (land, forests, and water). The emphasis was on the unique form of governance, situated between the market and the state. Historically, this trajectory runs from medieval markegenootschappen, guilds, and water boards to 19th-century cooperatives and mutual associations, up to the citizen collectives of today. The institutional design and development of these commons received much attention. Today, commons are a phenomenon studied across many scientific disciplines worldwide, with extensive research conducted in Africa, Asia, and South America.
Not only in academia, but also in politics and among active citizens, the concept of commons appeals to particular ideals, principles, and practices. In the political-social field, commons are often mentioned in critiques of globalization, privatization, market mechanisms, and individualization. In light of major challenges around climate, biodiversity, inequality, and housing, thinking and acting in terms of commons offers a pathway along which communities of like-minded citizens can shape a new, desired relationship between people and with nature. This approach comes with the expectation that commons can bridge the gap between citizens and government and strengthen the democratic character of society. Across the world, these ideas are elaborated in more or less radical political visions and practical proposals, for example in concepts such as urban commons or food commons.
Types of commons
n both scientific and societal fields, commons are generally considered across four domains:
-
Bio-physical commons – This is the most classic understanding, referring to land, water, plants, and animals.
-
Knowledge commons – Interest in this has grown due to technology and commercialization. It includes sharing scientific data and information (open sources) as well as protecting indigenous knowledge.
-
Cultural commons – The core idea is that language, music, art, and cultural heritage belong to communities, and that decision-making should remain with them.
-
Social-political commons – Focused on domains such as education, healthcare, and politics, with the ideal that the community has more influence and responsibility.
Commons and commoning
This diverse use of commons points to a politicization and socialization of the concept, which has also led to new definitions and interpretations. A useful distinction is between commons as a noun and commoning as a verb. Commons refer to the shared good itself, while commoning is the relational concept in which communities negotiate rules for access, use, care, and responsibility, with fairness and the well-being of all as guiding principles. In any form or interpretation, most commons can be considered a type of citizen collective.
References
- J.L. Vivero-Pol, T. Ferrando, O. De Schutter & U. Mattei, 2019. Routledge handbook of Food as a Commons, New York.
- P. Linebaugh, 2008. The Magna Carta Manifesto: Liberties and Commons for All.
- J.K. Gibson-Graham, J. Cameron, S. Healy, 2013. Take back the economy. An Ethical Guide for Transforming our Communities, University of Minnesota Press.
- S. Gudeman, 2016. Anthropology and Economy, Cambridge University Press.
9781316442739 https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781316442739
Image: freepik.com