Embedded Files
Helpful prior knowledge and learning objectives
Helpful prior knowledge and learning objectives
Helpful prior learning:
Section 1.1.1 The economy and you, which explains what an economy is and how it is relevant to students’ lives
Section 1.1.2 The embedded economy, which explains the relationship between the economy and society and Earth’s systems
Section 1.1.4 Regenerative economies, which explains how circular, distributive and caring, needs-based and sufficient economies can meet human needs within planetary boundaries
Section 4.1.1 The commons as a system, which explains the parts, relationships, and functions of the commons and the relationship between the commons and other provisioning institutions
Section S.1 What are systems?, which explains what a system is, the importance of systems boundaries, the difference between open and closed systems and the importance of systems thinking
Section S.2 Systems thinking patterns, which outlines the core components of systems thinking: distinctions (thing/other), systems (part/whole), relationships (action/reaction), and perspectives (point/view)
Learning objectives:
discuss the role and importance of infrastructure in supporting commoning
In 2009, volunteers in Barcelona began building Guifi.net, one “node” at a time. Each node—a rooftop router or a simple cable—became a link in an independent internet network, bypassing the control of large companies (Figure 1). Instead of relying on commercial internet providers, community members connected directly to each other, creating a grassroots system that serves thousands, especially areas where commercial internet is too expensive or unavailable(Figure 2).
Figure 1. Installation of a node in Guifi.net's network in the neighbourhood of Sant Pere i Sant Pau in Tarragona
(Credit: Lluis tgn, CC BY-SA 4.0)
Figure 2. The growth in Guifi.net’s nodes since 2004
(Credit: Guifi.net)
Guifi.net’s success shows how important physical infrastructure is for commoning. Without the connected technologies, Guifi.net’s internet services wouldn’t exist. By organizing infrastructure collectively, Guifi.net spread costs, shared benefits, and gave users greater control over the system.
Infrastructure is often essential for commoning. But what do commoners need, who provides it, and how can it be built and maintained?
What is physical infrastructure for the commons?
What is physical infrastructure for the commons?
Physical infrastructure for the commons includes the buildings, tools, transportation, and technologies that communities need to access, manage, and sustain shared resources. Unlike commercial infrastructure, built mainly for business profit, commons infrastructure prioritises community needs, equitable access, and sustainability.
Commons infrastructure varies depending on the resource being shared. In a community garden, it might include tools, sheds, and water systems (Figure 2). In an urban commons like a shared workshop, it might include the building, workbenches, or internet access. Digital systems like Guifi.net’s network also count as physical infrastructure, as they enable less expensive, easier communication.
Figure 2. Commoning requires infrastructure to function, like this drip irrigation system
(Credit: Alfo Medeiros, Pexels licence)
How do communities create and maintain commons infrastructure?
How do communities create and maintain commons infrastructure?
Commons infrastructure often begins with local people using affordable materials and existing resources. For Guifi.net, tech-savvy volunteers used basic routers and cables, keeping costs low and control local. Community gardens or shared spaces frequently start on public land, using volunteer labour and local government support. Improvising with available resources helps communities stay independent of external funding while maintaining control.
Sustaining infrastructure involves more than materials. Communities need systems to manage maintenance, set rules, and ensure fair use. Guifi.net relies on members to set up and maintain equipment, fostering shared responsibility. In urban commons, members agree on rules to ensure safety, fair access, and order, preventing overuse while sharing the upkeep responsibilities.
Long-term maintenance is challenging. Repairs, upgrades, and replacements require funds, effort, and expertise (Figure 3). Volunteer projects like Guifi.net must recruit skilled participants, maintain order, resolve disputes, and raise money. While difficult, community-run initiatives often prove more resilient than state or market programmes because participants are directly involved in their success.
In some cities, state programs strengthen community efforts by offering grants or public land for shared use. This combination of local commitment and state support strengthens commons infrastructure.
Figure 3. Repairs and upgrades to commoning infrastructure often require specialist knowledge
(Credit: Los Muertos Crew, Pexels licence)
How does public infrastructure support commons?
How does public infrastructure support commons?
State-funded infrastructure—such as roads, libraries, water pipes, and public internet—can provide essential support for commons. Public libraries, for instance, can host commons projects by offering meeting spaces, Wi-Fi, or shared resources. Some governments invest in public broadband networks to ensure more equitable internet access.
State-funded infrastructure is especially important in rural areas, where private services are often unavailable. Roads help farmers connect to local markets, strengthening food systems and regional economies. In cities, public transport allows access to community gardens, coworking spaces, and other commons projects without needing private vehicles (Figure 4). By making infrastructure accessible, governments lower barriers, enabling diverse participation in commoning.
However, public infrastructure doesn’t always align with commons needs. For example, regulations in public urban parks may restrict community projects. Some communities overcome these challenges by obtaining permits or advocating for policy changes. By negotiating with authorities, commoners can ensure public infrastructure supports, rather than hinders, their efforts.
Figure 4. Public transportation helps people get together for commoning
(Credit: Jonathan Borba, Pexels licence)
How might commons infrastructure develop in the future?
How might commons infrastructure develop in the future?
The future of commons infrastructure will likely blend community-led efforts with state support, adapting to local physical and digital needs (Figure 5). Projects like Guifi.net and community gardens demonstrate commons’ potential to empower local groups but also reveal challenges.
Financing expensive infrastructure remains a major issue. Commons projects often rely on grants, donations, or community contributions. While initial funding may cover setup costs, ongoing expenses—like water for gardens or network maintenance—are harder to sustain. Section 4.4.4 discusses funding in more detail.
Commons infrastructure also faces risks like privatisation and restrictive regulations. Guifi.net must comply with telecommunication laws while protecting its community model. Urban commons often confront city rules limiting resource use. Legal recognition helps communities safeguard infrastructure and encourages state collaboration.
Finally, state authorities may not always support commons infrastructure, viewing it as a threat to state power or business interests. For effective collaboration, states must prioritise human and ecological wellbeing over profit-driven goals. Section 4.4.3 explores state policy’s role in depth.
Figure 5. Commons infrastructure will continue to rely on a blend of community-driven initiatives and public support.
(Credit: KR, Noun Project)
Activity 4.4.2
Activity 4.4.2
Concept: Regeneration
Skills: Thinking skills (creative thinking)
Time: 30-40 minutes
Type: Individual, pairs, or group
Option 1: School infrastructure
Imagine that a group of people wanted to start a school through commoning. On your own, with a partner or in a small group:
Brainstorm a list of the physical infrastructure the commoners would need to start the school. If you wanted, you could also sketch illustrations of the infrastructure. If you are in a school, you could also take a walk around the school and talk to adults to get more ideas.
Which infrastructure might the commoners themselves be able to provide?
Which infrastructure might the commoners need the state to provide?
What factors would influence whether the commoners would be able to create the infrastructure they would need to start the school?
Ideas for longer activities and projects are listed in Subtopic 4.5 Taking action
Checking for understanding
Checking for understanding
Further exploration
Further exploration
COMMONING CATALONIA - Guifi Net - Foundation - a short (under 2 minutes) video about Guifi.net’s digital commons. In Spanish, with English subtitles. Difficulty level: easy.
Forget Comcast. Here’s The DIY Approach to Internet Access - an article from Wired magazine about Guifi.net. Difficulty level: medium
Palaces for the People - A podcast episode from 99% Invisible exploring the concept of social infrastructure, such as libraries and community centers, and how they strengthen communities and foster civic engagement. Based on the book Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life. Difficulty level: medium.
Sources
Sources
Bollier, D. and Helfrich, S. (2019). Free, Fair and Alive: The Insurgent Power of the Commons. Gabriola Island: New Society Publishers.
Bollier, D. (2025). “11. Reimagining state power”. Think Like a Commoner: A Short introduction to the Life of the Commons, 2nd edition. https://www.thinklikeacommoner.com/
Gillmor, D. (2016). “Forget Comcast. Here’s The DIY Approach to Internet Access.” Wired. https://www.wired.com/2016/07/forget-comcast-heres-the-diy-approach-to-internet-access/
Terminology (in order of appearance)
Terminology (in order of appearance)
grassroots: a movement that uses the people in a given district, region or community as the basis for a political or continent movement
system: a set of interdependent parts that organise to create a functional whole
infrastructure: large scale physical systems that a society needs to function (roads, railways, electricity networks, etc)
sustainability: meeting people’s needs within the means of the planet
resilient: able to recover after a disturbance
state: a system that provides essential public services, and also governs and regulates other economic institutions
grant: a sum of money given by a government or other organisation for a particular purpose
economy: all the human-made systems that transfer and transform energy and matter to meet human needs and wants
coworking: an arrangement in which workers for different companies share an office space
regulation: a rule that guides individual or group behaviour and enforced by an authority
permit: an official document giving somone the right to do something
privatise: to transfer (a business, property or service) from public to private ownership and control
power: the ability to influence events or the behaviour of other people
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