Such a story invites us to consider there is more that unites us than divides us. Not only do we have a common genetic inheritance, we have a common cultural inheritance founded on a deep set of shared aspirations: for security, for the wellbeing of our loved ones, and for full participation in the possibilities of life. These aspirations lead us to understand that effective stewardship of the bio
sphere is essential, that societal responsibilities must balance short-term and long-term requirements, and that informed citizens can effectively self-organize to manage their affairs. These aspirations are best served by a deep and vibrant appreciation of the commons: the rich reservoir of natural and cultural resources upon which we depend for life. The School of Commoning is dedicated to enable people and organisations to deepen their understanding of and participation in local and global global commons. What Is the Commons? It has many definitions and one of our favourites is this: “The Commons is about building social relationships in such a way that all those things we need to reproduce our livelihood will be shared in a fair way, and managed in a sustainable way,” as Silke Helfrich said at the 1st International Commons Conference in Berlin, October 2010. Another definition that inspires our work at the School differentiates two kinds of commons based on “common pool resources” and “public goods.” Professor Elinor Ostrom, who won the Nobel Prize for her work on the Commons explains the difference in this video clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXzbcgj9F54. The commons is all that and much more. According to Wikipedia, “The commons is the social and political space where things get done and where people have a sense of belonging and have an element of control over their lives, providing sustenance, security and independence. It gives voice to civil society and helps us to learn new social practices, imagine a political, economic and social system beyond capitalism or communism.” (Wikipedia)
Here’s another way of thinking about it, which influences the School’s work: “The commons is the basis of society, which is the connection of individuals to one another and the recognition of their interdependency. It is expressed in culture as a way of life.” (Blue Labour blog, 15 May 2011)
What Is the Global Commons? While the term "commons" has been in use for centuries in one context or another, the "global commons" is a recent conceptualization of something that is ageless and has several meanings:
those resources that are shared by all of humanity, such as the sky, the oceans, the internet, human knowledge, or even the planet itself
the sum of all various local and regional commons across the world
an operating assumption espousing that the natural resources of the earth and the cultural resources of humanity are to be sustainably and equitably stewarded for the benefit of all, both now and in the future. What Is Commoning? There’s no commons without people practicing the art of of commoning defined as commoners engaged in mutually supportive relationships of co-creating and protecting material or intellectual resources essential to their life. In the words of Martin Luther King, we are "caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly." The art of commoning, in a broader sense, is one and the same as the art of living. It’s being fully engaged with life, choosing something we are passionate about and engaging with others to achieve more than any one of us could achieve on our own for a better life for everyone and a thrivable culture. In a more specific sense, we can distinguish three scopes of commoning. (Hence the three waves in the SoC logo.) The ensemble of practices used by people in the course of managing shared resources and reclaiming the commons. So in its simplest form, "commoning’ is creating and maintaining something collectively" (Michel Bauwens). Moving from the Me to the We, where people become capable to think, feel, and act as co-creative collective entities, without surrendering their individual autonomy. Recognising the inherent connectedness of humanity as a whole, and having our individual and collective “centre of gravity” in a state of being, where we are not separate from it. Inherent to the identity of the School of Commoning is strengthening the practices of all three ways, and stewarding the evolution of a “commoning” framework that connects them. We work with our members, learners, associates, clients, and other stakeholders, helping them reaching their aspirations, no matter in which wave of commoning they want to manifest them. Invitation to a Radical Inquiry. Let's explore the premise that all life is an indivisible unity. That unity is not some advanced state that we evolve into. Rather, it is a priori or prior to any divisions or difference-making mental or social structures that we tend to overlay on reality. In practice, this means that our decisions, behaviors, and actions take the totality into account, and we operate for the good of the whole. We invite you to join with us in a fearless, unbounded exploration of the implications and possibilities of this presumption.
