Reclaiming the Commons for the Common Good is an overview of the commons heritage which unearths and identifies pivotal commons practices within self-organizing, self-governing and self-informing principles, and brings them to the forefront of society today.

Students will find two comprehensive chapters on the Tragedy of the Commons, as well as eight specific capacity building practices and a manifesto exploring eight historical frames for current activism.

This overview is intended for students studying economics, politics, sociology, environmentalism, and history. Rich in historical detail, Reclaiming the Commons uncovers a denigrated piece of history, selectively culls elements that could be usefully revived today and ends with a vision in which some promising current initiatives, such as permaculture and the Occupy Movement, take on a deeper significance.

Heather Menzies is an award-winning writer and scholar and the author of nine books, including Whose Brave New World? and No Time. She has been awarded an honourary doctorate and the Order of Canada for her “contributions to public discourse.” A mother and grandmother, a gardener and social-justice activist, Heather regularly contributes to journals and newspapers, and is in high demand as a speaker, offering a thoughtful critique of our disintegrating social fabric.

Praise for Reclaiming the Commons for the Common Good

“It’s an admirable, even noble, vision, and expresses very eloquently what will have to be done if humanity is to escape the current race towards disaster. There’s not much time, and it’s a huge risk. I hope that this book has the impact it deserves.”
—Noam Chomsky, linguist, philosopher, political theorist, MIT

“When the great Crash, ecologic or economic, comes, Heather Menzies’ brilliant critique, provides an understanding of why it came about and a path towards a truly sustainable way for humanity to live on the planet.”
—David Suzuki, author, Wisdom of the Elders and The Sacred Balance