The latest issue of the Green European Journal on “Finding Common Ground” (Volume 14), originally published here:

You may also read the editorial of this issue here.

“An investigation into the commons reveals the wide-ranging spectrum of definitions and applications of this concept that exist across Europe. Yet from the numerous local initiatives, social movements, and governance models associated with this term – is it possible to identify the outline of a commons-based approach that could form the basis of a broad cross-societal response to the failures of the current system?

Articles in this edition

• The Commons: A Quiet Revolution by Editorial Board. A striking brand of political momentum is building, driven by the resurgence of citizen-led initiatives around the commons.

• The Time Is Now! Commons From Past to Present: An Interview with Tine De Moor by Tine De Moor. Tine De Moor takes us through the historical context of the commons.

• Institutional Diversity for Resilient Societies by Dirk Holemans. A third option to management by the state or the market is explored: management by autonomous citizens.

• Rethinking the City through the Commons by Eric Piolle, Rosalie Salaün. Green Mayor of Grenoble Eric Piolle on involving citizens in how their city is governed.

• TINA, Go Home! The Commons Are Here by Vedran Horvat. The commons can be a useful tool against the fierce neoliberal push taking place in South Eastern Europe.

• Constructive Confrontation or constructive Tension – the State and the Commons by Danijela Dolenec, Hilary Wainwright, John Clarke, Michel Bauwens, Tomislav Tomaševic, Vedran Horvat. A panel of five experts discuss the ambivalent relationship between the state and the commons.

• Urban Commons’ Critique of Ownership Institutions: An Insurrection on the Way? by Daniela Festa. Social geographer Daniela Festa explores the commons within the context of neoliberal expansion in Italy.

• Digital Commons: Our Shared Right to Knowledge and Culture by Julia Reda. MEP & digital commons expert Julia Reda addresses the pertinent question of who owns what is online.

• How the Commons can Revitalise Europe by David Hammerstein, Sophie Bloemen. How can the EU support the establishment of commons, which could in turn sustain the European project?

• Taking Back Ownership – Transforming Capital into Commons by Molly Scott Cato, Ugo Mattei. What are the different ways resources can be managed and what different outcomes does it lead to?

• Cry me a River: Poland’s Threatened Waterways by Ewa Sufin-Jacquemart, Radoslaw Gawlik. The Polish government’s plans for Poland’s rivers would be disastrous – instead, control should be handed to communities.

• Sowing the seeds of Resistance by Benjamin Joyeux, Vandana Shiva. Benjamin Joyeux interviews Indian activist Vandana Shiva about biodiversity, seed patents, and the commons.

• Nassonia Forest: Into the Common Wild by Jonathan Piron. The Nassonia project in Belgium could be a leading light in common ownership and governance – with a few changes.

• Cosmic Bonanza – Mining in Outer Space by Liesbeth Beneder, Richard Wouters. As some of Earth’s resources risk being depleted, could outer space become a source of raw materials in the future?

Find the full issue here.