It’s devoted to bringing together multi-disciplinary researchers, practitioners and policymakers for the purpose of improving governance and management, advancing understanding, and creating sustainable solutions for commons, common-pool resources, or any other form of shared resource. The organisation is based on the ideas of the late Elinor Ostrom of Indiana University and it is supported in part by individual, organizational, and supporting memberships and most expenditures are covered through affiliated organizations. Formerly known as the Common Property Network (until 2006).

Publications:

• The bi-annual International Journal of the Commons
• A digital library of articles on all matters of subjects related to the commons

Conferences:

It hosts Global, Thematic and Regional conferences.

• The 2015 Global conference focused on common pool resources such as fisheries, forests, and water resources.
• The 2016 Thematic conference will focus on the interdisciplinary study of knowledge commons in the fields of medicine and the environment.
• The 2016 European Regional conference will focus on Commons in a “glocal” world of global connections and local responses.