Empowering the commons?

Abstract

This thesis investigates the influence of Public Collective Collaboration (PCC) on the governance of urban commons in Amsterdam. Urban commons, comprising collectively managed resources, management systems and communities, are increasingly recognised as alternatives to traditional market- and state-driven resource management systems. Using a mixed-methods approach, this research identifies the landscape of urban commons in Amsterdam, examining their structures, practices, and interactions with the municipality. Key findings highlight how both internal factors (such as trust-building and shared understanding) and external factors (like institutional design and facilitative leadership) shape collaborative efforts. The study further explores how these factors of collaboration influence the functioning (political pressure versus service provision) and positioning (independence versus autonomy) dimensions of the governance of the commons. The results show how the success or failure of factors of collaboration can influence the mutually exclusive nature of the dimensions of governance of the commons. These results give a more nuanced and empirical understanding of the dynamic of enhancement and co-optation due to PCC. These insights aim to support policy development under the amsterDOEN research agenda and contribute to academic debates on the evolving relationship between commons and local governments.