The Dilemma of the Commoners

Tine De Moor is Professor of 'Institutions for Collective Action in Historical Perspective' at Universiteit Utrecht, The Netherlands. She has published in various journals on a variety of topics in social and economic history, but most extensively on commons in northwestern Europe. She has won several prizes for her research, including the Prize for the Best Dissertation in the Category 'Medieval and Early Modern Period' of the International Economic History Association. She is also an elected member of the executive board of the International Association for the Study of the Commons (IASC) and the founder, former editor-in-chief, and member of the editorial board of the International Journal of the Commons.

• Introduction; 1. The emergence of commons and other forms of institutions for collective action in western Europe from the late Middle Ages onwards; 2. Common land and common rights in Flanders; 3. From rules to practice: case description, sources and methodology; 4. The choices of the commoners: understanding utility, efficiency and equity on the commons through the behavior of the commoners; 5. Dealing with dilemmas: conclusions; 6. Epilogue: the revenge of history? The return of the homo cooperans in present-day western European countries.

'Few people are more prepared than Tine De Moor to delve in the historical record of the commons, and to help restore the longue durée in our thinking about the commons. Now that the commons, in their old physical formats but also crucially in their new knowledge and digitally enabled formats, are making a return on the world stage, long-term thinking and an acquaintance with how they solved perennial issues is more important than ever. Maintaining sustainable commons over the longer term is crucial to protect our biosphere, and De Moor gives us the tools and historical experience to do so.' Michel Bauwens, Founder, Foundation for Peer-to-Peer Alternatives