“Every time a civilization is in crisis, there is a return of the commons” – Interview with Michel Bauwens
The commons are nothing new. Historically citizens always came together to pool resources and manage them collectively and autonomously. It is the responsibility of cities and states to identify, connect and support them. Today the commons appear as a choice of society in a world at the end of its lifespan. A society where economic and productive systems will finally be compatible with the major planetary balances.
We increasingly speak of commons. “Common goods”, “creative commons”, “commonalities”… What exactly are the commons about?
Michel Bauwens: The commons are three things at the same time: a resource (shared), a community (which maintains them) and precise principles of autonomous governance (to regulate them). These are very concrete things, which do not exist naturally but are the result of alliances between several parties. “There is no commons without commoning”. Examples are renewable energy cooperatives, shared mobility projects, entities of shared knowledge, food cooperatives…
In fact, we all have and create commons without knowing it, and have always done so… following more or less intense cycles of mutualization.
In fact, we all have and create commons without knowing it, and have always done so… following more or less intense cycles of mutualization.
If commoning follows cycles, where are we today?
M. B. : There are long, civilizational cycles and short, economic cycles. Regarding the former, every time a civilization is in crisis, there is a return of the commons. Because when class societies disintegrate, when resources are overexploited and run out, pooling resources makes more and more sense. Today, we face a global environmental crisis that is giving rise to a resurgence of the commons. Yesterday it was the end of the Roman Empire, the crisis in Japan in the 12th century or in China in the 15th century…
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