ABSTRACT
This chapter questions the central shibboleth of modern economies: is the market the best mechanism for the distribution of resources, or might be use a system based on commons instead? It explores the idea of sharing resources through systems of common rights over land and its production, and will contrast this system with the market system we live with today, from the perspective of their impacts on the environment. The modern discussion of the environmental impact of commons systems without clearly defined property rights – initiated by Garrett Hardin with his essay entitled ‘The Tragedy of the Commons’ – is covered in the chapter. It then considers the historical system of commons as a means for sharing resources, and the destruction of that system through enclosure. The concept of enclosure is then extended to include more abstract common resources, such as the global atmosphere or the ‘services’ provided by ecosystems. Finally, the chapter presents a case study of struggles over land ownership in Brazil.
