International Association for the Study of the Commons

International Association for the Study of the Commons
Name	International Association for the Study of the Commons
Founded	0 1989
Founder	Elinor Ostrom, Robert Wade, Fikret Berkes, others
Headquarters	Bloomington, Indiana, United States
Focus	Common-pool resource management, commons
Website	https://www.iasc-commons.org/

International Association for the Study of the Commons is a global, interdisciplinary professional association dedicated to the study and advancement of knowledge about commons and common-pool resources. Founded in 1989 by a group of pioneering scholars, it serves as a central network for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers working on shared resources like fisheries, forests, irrigation systems, and digital spaces. The association is closely associated with the work of Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences laureate Elinor Ostrom, whose research on governance frameworks provided its foundational intellectual core. It fosters collaboration across fields such as ecology, economics, anthropology, and political science to develop sustainable solutions for managing shared resources worldwide.

History and founding

The association was formally established in 1989 following a seminal conference in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which built upon earlier workshops supported by the National Science Foundation. Key founding figures included Elinor Ostrom of the Indiana University workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis, along with scholars like Robert Wade from the University of Sussex and Fikret Berkes from the University of Manitoba. Its creation was a direct response to the need for a dedicated scholarly community to challenge the prevailing "tragedy of the commons" narrative popularized by Garrett Hardin. The inaugural president was Elinor Ostrom, and early institutional support came from organizations like the Ford Foundation and the United Nations University.

Mission and objectives

The primary mission is to deepen understanding of commons institutions and improve the sustainable management of common-pool resources globally. Key objectives include advancing interdisciplinary research, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and data among members from diverse regions like the European Union and Southeast Asia, and influencing policy at institutions such as the World Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization. It aims to bridge the gap between academic theory and on-the-ground practice, supporting communities from the Andes to the Himalayas in developing robust governance systems. A core goal is to promote the design principles for successful commons governance derived from Elinor Ostrom's work.

Governance and organization

The association is governed by an elected Board of Directors and an executive committee, with a secretariat historically hosted at Indiana University Bloomington. Leadership includes a president, vice-president, and treasurer, with past presidents including notable figures like Ruth Meinzen-Dick of the International Food Policy Research Institute. Membership is organized into thematic working groups and regional networks, such as those focused on Latin America or Urban Commons. Key committees oversee the biennial Global Conference of the Commons, awards, and publications. Strategic partnerships are maintained with entities like the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the International Land Coalition.

Activities and programs

Its flagship activity is the biennial Global Conference of the Commons, held in locations such as Cheltenham, Utrecht, and Edmonton, which attracts hundreds of participants. The association also organizes specialized workshops, field studies, and training sessions, often in collaboration with bodies like the United Nations Development Programme. It runs the IASC Thematic Working Groups on issues including Climate Change and Commons, Forest Governance, and Knowledge Commons. Early career support is provided through fellowships and the Young Scholars Network. The association actively participates in major global forums like the World Social Forum and conferences of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Key concepts and theoretical contributions

The association is central to developing and disseminating key frameworks for commons analysis, most famously the eight design principles elucidated by Elinor Ostrom in her work Governing the Commons. It promotes the study of common-pool resources, institutional analysis, polycentric governance, and social-ecological systems resilience. Scholars within its network have profoundly contributed to understanding collective action, property rights regimes, and alternatives to pure state or market-based management. Its work challenges simplistic applications of the Coase theorem and enriches debates in fields like environmental law and development economics.

Publications and resources

The association publishes the prestigious journal International Journal of the Commons, a leading open-access periodical in the field. It also produces conference proceedings, research bulletins, and the Commons Digest newsletter. A vital resource is the Digital Library of the Commons, hosted at Indiana University Bloomington, which archives thousands of papers, case studies, and datasets. The association collaborates on major publications with academic presses like Cambridge University Press and MIT Press, and disseminates key findings to policy audiences through briefs for organizations like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Category:International professional associations Category:Environmental organizations Category:Research organizations