Making the commons work

It is widely assumed that natural resources owned in common will inevitably be exhausted unless they are either brought under state control or privatized. But is this assumption valid? Are state and private management really the only options? This book builds a strong case for the ability of communities to use common-pool resources effectively and sustainably - thus Making the Commons Work. In fishing grounds off Turkey and forests in south India, potato fields in the Andes and mountain pastures in Morocco, we find examples of communities that have avoided the "tragedy of the commons," without state intervention or privatization. Making the Commons Work brings together the research of internationally known scholars in economics, political science, anthropology, ethnography, environmental studies, and related fields who examine how and when common-property resources can be successfully managed on the user level. First, the concepts underlying the collective management of common property are introduced. Next, case studies from around the world demonstrate how collective systems function under diverse conditions with reasonable success. Finally, implications for further research and f