The Return of the Commons: How can Communities help in Sustainability Governance?

About

Sustainability governance is often framed as a choice between government regulation or market mechanisms. But is this dichotomy sufficient for today’s complex societal challenges? What role can communities themselves play? Drawing on Elinor Ostrom’s work on the commons, this course examines how communities manage shared resources and contribute to sustainable governance. Participants explore the conditions under which community-based governance emerges and complements state and market actors, using contemporary case studies and theoretical debates to rethink how societies can be co-governed in more inclusive and sustainable ways

Course leader

Prof. Mark Wiering and Prof. Arnoud Lagendijk

Target group

Master, PHD, Postdoc, Professional.

None, however some knowledge of and /or experience with community initiatives, energy communities, healthcare cooperatives, food collectives, residents' groups or cooperative businesses is helpful

Course aim

1. Understand the key social, institutional, and economic conditions that enable successful community-led initiatives.
2. Gain an overview of the legal frameworks, rules, and regulations shaping community involvement in the energy transition.
3. Critically discuss and debate the institutional changes needed to create more space for communities within sustainability governance.
4. Analyze the roles of communities in relation to state and market actors, drawing on theories of the commons and co-governance.
5. Apply theoretical insights to real-world cases from the Nijmegen–Arnhem region through excursions and engagement with practitioners.
6. Reflect on the opportunities and challenges of scaling up and sustaining community-based initiatives.
7. Communicate insights about the diversity and societal value of community initiatives to a broader audience, including friends, family, and fellow students

Fee info