Free, Fair, and Alive: The Insurgent Power of the Commons

by David Bollier, Silke Helfrich

The power of the commons as a free, fair system of provisioning and governance beyond capitalism, socialism, and other -isms. From co-housing and agroecology to fisheries and open-source everything, people around the world are increasingly turning to 'commoning' to emancipate themselves from a predatory market-state system. Free, Fair, and Alive presents a foundational re-thinking of the commons ― the self-organized social system that humans have used for millennia to meet their needs. It offers a compelling vision of a future beyond the dead-end binary of capitalism versus socialism that has almost brought the world to its knees. Written by two leading commons activists of our time, this guide is a penetrating cultural critique, table-pounding political treatise, and practical playbook. Highly readable and full of colorful stories, coverage Free, Fair, and Alive provides a fresh, non-academic synthesis of contemporary commons written for a popular, activist-minded audience. It presents a compelling that we can be free and creative people, govern ourselves through fair and accountable institutions, and experience the aliveness of authentic human presence.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Economics

448 pages, Paperback

Published September 3, 2019

Reviews

[Sudhir Shetty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must congratulate the authors of this book for painting such a wonderful picture of a future that is both necessary and aspirational. The research to bring forth valuable case studies certainly keeps the narrative on the realistic realm each time the articulation of bold ideas appear too optimistic. The book has helped me immensely to channelize my research in this direction - there are many wonderful who have accurately diagnosed the disease and causes (Market-State system) to humanity's existential predicament (risk from Societal & Biospheric Collapse) but very few dare to propose an alternative like commons & commonning as an effective strategic response- yes this commons has the potential to radically reduce global throughput of energy & resources along with reduced civilizational complexity (reliance on global supply chains) to sustainable levels and allow for the planet to heal.
I wonder if it was deliberate but the book has presented commons as an aspirational goal for humanity rather than presenting it as a compulsion due to the Bio-physical realities of Global economy.
-- Sudhir Shetty (Founder, Global Crisis Response)

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this for a class focused on the future of the commons. The ideas are really solid but I think the discussion on language was a bit far fetched. I’m not sure if the audience of the book is clear — more aimed at academics than the general public.

[Cecile 🐧]

Amen - not a cult!