Our patterns of "Governing Internal Relations" were inspired by the landmark design principles developed by Elinor Ostrom and her colleagues, and reflect their pioneering thinking. However, our patterns move beyond them in several significant ways. We wished to incorporate observed realities from more diverse forms of contemporary commons, including digital commons. We wished to stress the relational and intersubjective aspects of commoning (vs. an economistic focus on resource management and allocation). And we wanted to more fully articulate the external relations that commons have, so that the character of the state, markets and political economies can be more explicitly assessed.
# 3. Dynamics of Self-Governance in Commons # 3.a. Governing Internal Relations - Relationalize Property - Develop Shared Purpose & Values - Assure Inclusiveness but Set Semi-Permeable Boundaries - Assure Commoners' Consent in Decisionmaking - Honor Transparency in a Sphere of Trust - Share Knowledge Often and Widely - Self-Monitor, Mediate & Sanction
# 3.b. Governing External Relations - Beat the Bounds - Emulate & Then Federate - Create Polycentric Democracies - Accept State Oversight & Support as Needed
# See also: State Functions for Commoning, [Design Principles for Commons Institutions]] and How To Govern