For general information see France.

Key resources

A Map of the French Commons Movements]

Directories

Introduction

One of the distinctive features of the French and Francophone commons and transition movement is the existence of numerous platforms dedicated to mapping, connecting, documenting, and facilitating collaboration among initiatives. These directories function as knowledge commons for the broader ecosystem, helping activists, researchers, cooperatives, local authorities, and citizens discover projects, share resources, and build alliances.

Together they constitute an important part of the infrastructure of the commons movement.

ECCAP: Explorer les Chemins de Changement à Partir des Alternatives et des Possibles

URL: https://eccap.fr/?PagePrincipale

ECCAP ("Exploring Pathways of Change through Alternatives and Possibilities") is a collaborative mapping platform that documents initiatives, ideas, organizations, and resources dedicated to ecological and social transformation.

Rather than organizing alternatives according to economic sectors, ECCAP structures its resources around major civilizational questions.

Transiscope

URL: https://transiscope.org

Transiscope is one of the largest French-language directories of ecological and social transition initiatives.

Created through collaboration among numerous transition organizations, it allows users to discover local projects, associations, cooperatives, citizen initiatives, and solidarity-economy actors throughout France.

The platform serves as a practical gateway for citizens seeking involvement in local alternatives.

Interpole

URL: https://interpole.xyz

Interpole is a Francophone platform dedicated to connecting transformative organizations and movements.

Its objective is to strengthen cooperation among initiatives working toward ecological, social, democratic, and economic transformation.

Archipel des Confluences

URL: https://archipelconfluences.org

The Archipel des Confluences seeks to connect diverse actors working toward societal transformation.

The metaphor of the archipelago emphasizes the coexistence of autonomous initiatives linked through cooperation rather than centralized coordination.

LaboFurtif

URL: https://labofurtif.org

LaboFurtif is a collaborative laboratory dedicated to emerging social transformations and future-oriented experimentation.

It operates at the intersection of foresight, social innovation, and movement research.

Collectif des Associations Citoyennes (CAC)

URL: https://www.associations-citoyennes.net

The Collectif des Associations Citoyennes defends the role of citizen associations as democratic actors and producers of social value.

The collective plays an important role in debates concerning the future of civil society organizations and their contribution to democratic life.

Collectif pour une Transition Citoyenne

URL: https://transitioncitoyenne.org

The Collectif pour une Transition Citoyenne brings together numerous French organizations working on ecological and social transition.

The collective serves as a major umbrella network within the French transition ecosystem.

Policy Developments

• Olivier Jaspart on the Political Common in France (in French: le 'commun politique"0
  • Article: Olivier Jaspart, juriste spécialiste de la décentralisation : « Il s’agit d’envisager la politique publique partagée comme un bien commun ». Interview de Olivier Jaspart. M3, 2026.

[1]

• Report: Policy Proposals for Land Commons in France. FONCIER EN COMMUNS. VERS UNE PROPRIÉTÉ PARTAGÉE. DES LIEUX ESSENTIELS. Ed. by Rémy Seillier et Sébastien Shulz. Société des communs, Livret 04. 2024.[2]
• Report: Rethinking Public Services in the Light of Commons. 'OUVRIR LA GOUVERNANCE ET LA PRODUCTION DES SERVICES PUBLICS AUX CITOYENS. Coordinateurs du livret : Louise Guillot, Rémy Seillier et Sébastien Shulz. Societe des Communs. January 2024.

[3]

• Multi-Stakeholder Institutions for Territorial Transition - France
• Proposed Constitutional Amendment To Introduce the Commons in the French Constitution
• Public-Commons Partnerships in France: Special Issue: Vers des partenariats public-communs ? Un dossier coordonné par Élisabeth Dau et Nicolas Krausz. Horizons Public, #21, 2021 [4].
• This document by the French digital ambassador stresses the strategic interest for the French government and the EU of supporting the expansion of digital commons: see Digital Commons as Drivers of Sovereignty
• France: Riposte Créative Territoriale: a series of initiatives to mutualize local resources as a response to the COVID-19 crisis: "reliés par une démarche commune sont des espaces ouverts de coopération pour apprendre ensemble de la crise, favoriser les solidarités, mutualiser les initiatives et préparer l'après. Ces communautés de pratiques ouvertes animées dans une logique de communs, coopèrent entre elles et partagent leurs productions en licence par défaut CC by SA.". Examples: Strasbourg ; Bretagne
• Glocal Low- Tech: Report (French-language): Rapport de la Recherche-Action. GLOCAL LOW-TECH « Exploration des voies, méthodes et outils pour un essor systémique de la Low-Tech ». Période 10/11/2020 - 10/08/2022. Michel Foata-Prestavoine. Ademe et al., 2022: "on the establishment of one or more legal organizations capable of caring for the "Common Goods" of the Low-Tech ecosystems."