Commons Governance

Governing Shared Resources

Throughout history, communities have developed sophisticated systems for managing shared resources. This research area explores these commons governance traditions and their relevance to contemporary challenges.

Building on Elinor Ostrom’s groundbreaking work, we examine:

• Long-lasting commons systems from different regions
• Institutional design principles for sustainable resource management
• Knowledge commons and cultural commons governance
• Digital commons and their governance structures
• The relationship between commoning practices and broader governance systems

Current Projects

• Alpine commons for forest and pasture management
• Irrigation systems governance across cultures
• Urban commons in historical perspective
• Historical seed and plant genetic resource sharing systems
• Traditional fisheries management