The Emergent Commons: A New Approach to UK Community Development
In recent years, a new concept has been gaining traction in the UK community development sector: the emergent commons. This approach represents a shift in thinking about how communities can come together to address common challenges and create opportunities for collective action and shared resources. In this article, we will explore the emergent commons model, its potential benefits for UK communities, and examples of how this approach is being implemented across the country.
The term “emergent commons” refers to the idea of a community-driven, bottom-up approach to addressing social, economic, and environmental issues. It recognizes that communities possess a wealth of local knowledge, skills, and resources, and seeks to harness these assets to foster collaboration, innovation, and resilience. At its core, the emergent commons model emphasizes the importance of collective intelligence, shared ownership, and decentralized decision-making.
One of the key principles of the emergent commons is the idea of open access to resources and opportunities. This means creating spaces, both physical and virtual, where community members can come together to exchange ideas, skills, and support. It also involves rethinking how resources are owned and managed, with an emphasis on collective ownership and stewardship rather than privatization or exclusion. By promoting open access, the emergent commons model seeks to democratize community development and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate and benefit.
Another important aspect of the emergent commons is the concept of mutual aid and reciprocity. This involves building networks of support and solidarity within and between communities, where individuals and groups can exchange assistance, resources, and knowledge. By fostering mutual aid, the emergent commons model aims to strengthen social connections, build trust, and promote a culture of collective care and responsibility.
In practice, the emergent commons approach can take many different forms, depending on the specific needs and dynamics of a given community. Some examples of emergent commons initiatives in the UK include community-led renewable energy projects, cooperative housing developments, community gardens and urban farms, time banks and skill-sharing networks, and community-owned and managed spaces such as libraries, co-working spaces, and makerspaces. These initiatives are driven by the values of collaboration, inclusivity, and sustainability, and serve as examples of how the emergent commons model can be put into action.
One of the potential benefits of the emergent commons approach is its ability to empower communities to take more control over their own development and well-being. By providing opportunities for community members to come together, share their skills and resources, and work towards common goals, the emergent commons model can help build social capital, foster a sense of agency and self-determination, and support the development of local leadership and entrepreneurship. This can in turn lead to more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable communities that are better equipped to address the challenges they face.
Furthermore, the emergent commons model has the potential to contribute to a more equitable and just society. By promoting open access, mutual aid, and shared ownership, this approach can help address issues of social and economic inequality, by creating spaces and opportunities for marginalized and underrepresented groups to participate and have their needs and interests recognized and valued. In this way, the emergent commons model can contribute to building a more inclusive and participatory democracy, where everyone has a voice and a stake in the decisions that affect their lives.
While the emergent commons approach offers many potential benefits, it also presents its own challenges and complexities. For example, implementing emergent commons initiatives may require navigating legal and policy barriers, securing funding and resources, and addressing power dynamics and conflicts within and between communities. Additionally, there is a need to ensure that emergent commons initiatives are truly participatory and inclusive, and that they do not reproduce existing inequalities or exclude certain groups or voices.
Despite these challenges, the emergent commons model represents a promising and innovative approach to community development in the UK. By recognizing and harnessing the collective intelligence and resources of communities, and by promoting open access, mutual aid, and shared ownership, this approach has the potential to empower communities, foster solidarity and resilience, and contribute to a more equitable and sustainable society. As the emergent commons movement continues to grow and evolve, it will be important to learn from and build on the experiences of communities across the UK, and to support and scale up emergent commons initiatives that have the potential to transform our communities for the better.
