A 21st century commons: from economic tragedy to reclaiming the streets

Julian Dobson, director, Urban Pollinators

“Commons” is becoming a charged word, following a path similar to those taken by words such as “sustainability” and “resilience”, raised as a banner under which an increasing variety of people and organisations which to place themselves.

Dougald Hine, 2013

‘THE COMMON’A PLACE TO BE FREE, BUT NOT A FREE-FOR-ALL

THE REAL TRAGEDY OF THE COMMONS...IS ENCLOSURE AND PRIVATISATION, NOT ACCESS AND AVAILABILITY

‘The inherent logic of the commons remorselessly generates tragedy... Freedom in a commons brings ruin to all’

Garrett Hardin, The Tragedy of the Commons, 1968

‘Commoning has always been local. It depends on custom, memory and oral transmission for the maintenance of its norms rather than law, police and media.’

Peter Linebaugh, The Magna Carta Manifesto, 2008

THE ‘NEW COMMONS’ OF THE 21ST CENTURYFROM PERMITTED ACCESS TO PRODUCTIVE VALUE

‘We are seeing a growing number of people discovering what individuals working together, developing self-governing skills, can accomplish independently of governments, corporations, or private owners.’

Charlotte Hess, Mapping the New Commons, 2008

Based on Charlotte Hess, 2008

Education

Creative commons

Internet

Libraries

Peer production

Public domain

Science

Knowledge commons

Gift economy

Sharing economyMarkets as commons

Antarctica

Atmosphere

Biodiversity

Electromagnetic spectrum

Food security

Knowledge, cultural and infrastructure commons

Oceans

Rivers

Waste management

Water management

Global commons

Agriculture

Fisheries

Forests

Grazing lands

Land tenure and use

Villages and social organisation

Water and irrigation

Wildlife

Traditional commons

Electromagnetic spectrum

Internet infrastructure

Public radio

Wireless communication

Transport infrastructure

Infrastructure commons

Community gardens

Housing

Noise/ quiet

Pavements

Security

Streets

Neighbourhood commons

Gene pool

Hospitals

Medical budgets

Public healthcare

Health commons

Fashion

Indigenous culture

Music

Nonprofit organisations

Public art

Sacred spaces

Sports activities and locations

Tourism and travel

Cultural commons

MAPPING THE NEW COMMONS

The new commons are characterised by economies of the small scale: many people working together to create public goods, using resources wisely and effectively, and increasing a local and personal sense of agency and influence.

‘REGENERATION’: CREATING OR ERODING THE COMMONS?REGENERATION HAS FOCUSED ON MARKET FAILURE INSTEAD OF RETHINKING MARKETS

‘The route to a more productive, dynamic and sustainable economy in the UK begins when people can live lives that fulfil their potential and sustain their wellbeing. This will not happen when many are unable to contribute fully to the public good.’

ResPublica, Responsible Recovery, 2013

‘Only through a rethinking of the city commons can we begin to take social capital seriously in land use policy and law. Instead of conceptualising the city as an aggregation of private property rights, we should instead seek to identify and protect common resources and interests in the city commons.’

Sheila Foster, The City as an Ecological Space, 2006

A CHALLENGE: OUR STREETS AS THE NEW COMMONSCAN COMMONS THINKING MOVE FROM NATURAL RESOURCES TO URBAN ASSETS?

‘Within the community, the more persons who participate in a dance, the higher its value to each participant. Each added dancer brings new opportunities to vary partners and share the excitement.’

Carol Rose, The Comedy of the Commons, 1986

‘The present decade has been marked by a retreat from social concerns. Scientists bring to our attention urgent but complex problems bearing on our very survival... We respond by demanding more details, and by assigning the problems to institutions ill-equipped to cope with them.’

Gro Harlem Brundtland, Our Common Future, 1987

‘It is through the performance of creative acts, in art, in thought, in personal relationships, that the city can be identified as something more than a purely functional organisation of factories and warehouses, barracks, courts, prisons and control centres.’

Lewis Mumford, The City in History, 1961

Power without care creates blight. Care without power fuels helplessness and frustration. This is why a concept of stewardship must be at the heart of any vision to reclaim the land in our towns and cities for the people.

thank you

www.urbanpollinators.co.uk Twitter: @juliandobson