A question of collaboration: Scaling the commons through networking

Bernd Bonfert ()
Additional contact information
Bernd Bonfert: Métis Lab EM Normandie - EM Normandie - École de Management de Normandie = EM Normandie Business School, Aarhus University [Aarhus], Cardiff University

Post-Print from HAL

Abstract: Commons initiatives in the food and energy system, such as community-supported agriculture schemes and energy communities, are often praised for their contribution to decommodifying and democratising the provision of essential needs. However, such initiatives often remain limited in scope and accessibility due to their small size and inability to benefit from economies of scale. Many are thus building larger networks to diffuse their practices and achieve political change. In doing so, they pursue alternative pathways for scaling the commons outside conventional market growth. This article investigates the role of such ‘commons networks' in organising and scaling a commons-based economy. It draws on theorisations of polycentric governance and politico-economic regimes to understand how such networks are governed, what roles different participants play, what scaling strategies they develop, and what achievements and challenges they encounter. Data is drawn from qualitative case studies of networks among community-supported agriculture and energy communities in the UK, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Belgium, using interviews, observation, and document analyses. The article reveals a trend towards centralisation in network governance, different scaling approaches between the food and energy sectors, as well as challenges of commodification and institutionalisation, which inform the strategies and impact of commons networks.

Date: 2026-05-11
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Published in Environment and Planning D: Society and Space, 2026, ⟨10.1177/02637758261450076⟩

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05629692

DOI: 10.1177/02637758261450076

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in Post-Print from HAL
Bibliographic data for series maintained by CCSD ().