The tragedy of the commons in communities
I first learnt about “the tragedy of the commons” and Elinor Ostrom while studying Geography at university. It is a term that has resurfaced in my mind many times over the years as I’ve deeper into my own work in communities, and the questions of how to govern common resources have felt more and less acutely important at different times. I’ve noticed a few patterns:
Looking at a system like the UN from a birds-eye view, there seems to be a repeating tragedy of the commons when it comes to communities that serve the system as a whole rather than individual organisations. They are chronically under-resourced and many enjoy the benefits of them existing without investing in them continuing. It seems like a classic case of the tragedy of the commons.
In individual communities that are about creating new possibilities / showing up and creating together differently (e.g. Young UN or the other communities I have co-created), one of or perhaps THE most valuable common resource for these groups is the quality of the space. It’s like the air we breathe. When it becomes toxic or otherwise infected, people leave. And therefore a key skill and process needs to be having the governance mechanisms in place to protect that common resource like our life depends on it. Like a water reservoir where the water quality is our top priority. Because the lives of communities literally do depend on it. Communities are by definition spaces that people come to voluntarily, and when they become an energy drain rather than an energy source for people, they leave.