The Struggle to Govern the Commons

Question 1

What does the article set out to do

Answer 1

review what science (real-world observations) have told us about governing the commons

Question 2

High level takeaway

Answer 2

empirical evidence suggests more nuance to the tragedy of the commons

self-governing institutions can successfully manage the commons, even in the absence of full property rights

no single type of ownership - private, community, or state - uniformly succeeds or fails at halting resource depletion

authors suggest adaptive management

Question 3

requirements for adaptive management

Answer 3

1. information: information on resource and human-environment interactions
2. Conflict resolution: need to involve diverse stakeholders in deliberation, have systems in place for conflict resolution
3. Rule Compliance: need ways to monitor compliance, enforce rules
4. infrastructure: infrastructure can mean the difference between success and failure of institutions
5. Ability to handle change: fixed rules are problematic in environmental settings

Question 4

example of successful community management provided in the article

Answer 4

Lobsters fisheries in Maine

Question 5

How does Maine lobster fishery co-management regime align with Ostrom’s principles

Answer 5

Nested management

involvement of stakeh9olders in management design

boundaries are well-established

built in mechanisms for conflict resolution

management is adaptive