Global Commons

Definition

"Global commons is that which no one person or state may own or control and which is central to life. A Global Common contains an infinite potential with regard to the understanding and advancement of the biology and society of all life. e.g. forests, oceans, land mass and cultural identity and hence requires absolute protection." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_common)

Description

Charlotte Hess:

"Global commons are the oldest and most established “new commons”. There is a large body of literature on the global commons and the foci are broad—from climate change to international treaties to transboundary conflicts. For instance, a search on “global commons” in the Comprehensive Bibliography of the Commons (Hess 2007) results in 4183 hits. I am just going to give a very brief overview of this vast terrain in this paper.

Some of the early works on global commons are those by Christy and Scott (1965) looking at competition for the fisheries of the high seas which “are the common wealth of the world community;” Boot (1974) examining global commons and population and economic inequity; Bromley and Cochrane (1994) discussing global commons policy. Soroos has been researching and writing on the global commons for over thirty years. Oran Young is a leading scholar on global governance and international regimes. Buck (1998) is a respected commons scholar who has written one of the best introductions to the global commons. Other general works surveying global commons are Cleveland (1990); Dasgupta, Maler and Vercelli (1997); Bromley and Cochrane (2004); McGinnis and Ostrom (1996); Young (1999); Baudot (2001); Barkin and Shambaugh (1999); Karlsson (1997); Bernstein (2002); Byrne and Glover (2002); Cairns (2003, 2006); Vogler (2000); and Joyner (2001); Nonini (2006a)." (http://ssrn.com/abstract=1356835)

Source: Charlotte Hess. Mapping the New Commons,2008 [1]

Typologies of the Global Commons

From James Bernard Quilligan in People Sharing Resources" [2]

Noosphere

indigenous culture and traditions, community

support systems, social connectedness, voluntary associations, labor relations, women and children's rights, family life, health, education, sacredness, religions and ethnicity, racial values, silence, creative works, languages, stores of human knowledge and wisdom, scientific knowledge, ethnobotanical knowledge, ideas, intellectual property, information, communication flows, airwaves, internet, free culture, cultural treasures, music, arts, purchasing power, the social right to issue money, security, risk management

Biosphere

fisheries, agriculture, forests, land, pastures,

ecosystems, parks, gardens, seeds, food crops, genetic life forms and species, living creatures

Physiosphere

the elements, minerals, inorganic energy,

water, climate, atmosphere, stratosphere

More Informatio

Internal Links

• James Bernard Quilligan
• Global Commons Trust
• Global Common Goods
• Coalition for the Global Commons
• Share The World's Resources

External Links

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_commons