Independence in the Commons: How Group Ownership Realises Basic Non-Domination

Abstract

While republicans have long recognised that individual ownership is important for attaining independence, group ownership institutions remain under-researched, particularly outside the context of firm governance. Seeking to address this gap, this chapter explains whether and how group ownership of different types of resources can contribute to non-domination. It develops a conception of basic non-domination, which consists of the enjoyment of basic capabilities that people require to be able to resist arbitrary power, and of robust control over decisions that affect these capabilities. To contribute to basic non-domination, ownership institutions must, first, promote use of resources such that people can rely on these resources to attain their basic capabilities. Second, they must place the people who rely on a resource for their basic capabilities in control of how that resource may be used. Both criteria can be satisfied under institutions of sharing in common; ownership arrangements in which group members democratically determine how a resource may be used. The chapter shows how group ownership in natural and information resources realises basic non-domination by placing people in control of the resources they need for their empowerment.