Commoning Alternatives: Historical Legacies and Research Directions of Participatory Governance in Rural Commons

This paper offers an exploratory operationalisation of the transformative potential rural commons in promoting cooperative and community-based ownership models, with a focus on their potential to de-commodify essential services and resources. Grounded in a literature review, archival and historical analysis, the research examines participatory and deliberative practices in rural common lands, particularly in Portugal, Spain, and Turkey. These commons, long governed through collective action, offer a rich field to explore alternatives to capitalist ownership frameworks, revealing their capacity to sustain equitable resource management and foster socio-ecological resilience. The study draws on Ostrom's commons governance framework and Wright's concept of "real utopias" to contextualize common lands as dynamic spaces where historical legacies – of which an ‘archaeology’ of participatory and deliberative practives remains to be done – intersect with contemporary socio-political challenges. Preliminary findings underscore the ability of commons to resist privatisation and neoliberal encroachments through participatory (self-) governance, thereby nurturing collective action, trust, and solidarity networks. This research also seeks to advance a broader agenda on the interplay between commons and democratic innovations, while emphasising the importance of the historical understanding on the socio-political and material conditions that enable commons to persist and thrive. By synthesising existing scholarship and identifying critical gaps, the study aims to guide future research directions on the nexus between participatory governance and socio-economic alternatives to neoliberal frameworks of land and resources management. In conclusion, the paper positions rural commons as a vital loci for democratic and ecological innovation, providing actionable insights for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners, highlighting the transformative potential of commons to promote community-based ownership models.