ABSTRACT
This chapter explains the main principles of the governance of commons. It describes the difference of commons in relation to other types of goods. Elinor Ostrom's research stresses the important role of commons for the sustainable governance of resources. She disproved the long-standing economic theorem that the self-governance of commons inescapably leads to the depletion of the resource due to overuse. The chapter contrasts Ostrom's theory with the conventional economic one. It responds to critiques that have been raised against her theory. The chapter summarises the policy implications emerging from Ostrom's theory. The socio-ecological systems (SES) framework holds great potential for social science integration, and may serve as a bridge between political ecology and commons theory. The Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework has been developed into the broader SES framework, which incorporates 'the biophysical and ecological foundations of institutional systems'.
