Commons – Governance

Description

Summary by Sam Rose:

Groups that are able to organize and govern their behavior successfully are marked by the some basic design principles:

• Group boundaries are clearly defined. • Rules governing the use of collective goods are well matched to local needs and conditions. • Most individuals affected by these rules can participate in modifying the rules. • The rights of community members to devise their own rules is respected by external authorities. • A system for monitoring member’s behavior exists; the community members themselves undertake this monitoring. • A graduated system of sanctions is used. • Community members have access to low-cost conflict resolution mechanisms. • For Common Pool Resources that are parts of larger systems: appropriation, provision, monitoring, enforcement, conflict resolution, and governance activities are organized in multiple layers of nested enterprises. (http://www.communitywiki.org/en/CommunityWikiResourcePool#GoverningTheCommons)

More Information

1. Our general article about the Commons
2. Governing The Commons: The Evolution of Institutions for Collective Action Ostrom, Elinor http://cooperationcommons.com/node/361
3. Hess, Charlotte http://research.iftf.net/aboutnewcommons