Balancing the Commons in Switzerland: Institutional Transformations and Sustainable Innovations

Balancing the Commons in Switzerland explores the management of common-pool resources like pastures and forests in Switzerland, highlighting continuity and change. It examines the differences and similarities between local institutions and commoners organizations and provides case studies from the German, French, and Italian-speaking regions. The book analyzes how local commoners reacted to and shaped changes, showing how institutional changes are embedded in public policies and generating a laboratory situation. It offers insights into commons management and lessons for the commons worldwide.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 308 pages
Publication date: 26 September 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Balancing the Commons in Switzerland delves into the intricate dynamics of managing shared resources like pastures and forests in the country, exploring both the continuities and transformations in this practice. It specifically focuses on the contrasting characteristics and organizational structures of local institutions and commoners' organizations, which have been responsible for overseeing common property for centuries and have played a significant role in shaping the cultural landscapes of Switzerland. At the heart of the book are five in-depth case studies from the German, French, and Italian-speaking regions of Switzerland, spanning from the Late Middle Ages to the transformative periods of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. These case studies trace the internal and external political, economic, and societal changes that have impacted commoners, examining the profound effects these changes have had on their way of life.

By going beyond the work of Robert Netting and Elinor Ostrom, who examined Swiss commons as a unique case of robustness, this book delves into the nuanced responses of local commoners to these changes. It explores how they have adapted and transformed common property institutions to navigate the evolving landscape, highlighting the intricate interplay between local collective organizations and their members in coping with the decline in the value of the commons and the increased workload associated with maintaining common property management.

Through these insightful case studies, the book offers valuable theoretical contributions and lessons that can be applied to commons management across the globe. It sheds light on the complex power relations and diverse routes taken by local collective organizations and their members in navigating the challenges posed by the loss of value and the demands of managing shared resources. This volume serves as a valuable resource for students, scholars, and policymakers interested in understanding the dynamics of commons governance and the potential for sustainable resource management practices.

Weight: 496g
Dimension: 155 x 234 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367724085