A question of collaboration: Scaling the commons through networking

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.