Working with Institutional Artisans: Re-envisioning Practitioner Participation in Commons Governance

Abstract

"How can or should applied social scientists work with communities seeking to govern shared resources? Concepts of co-evolving discursive communities, helping self-help, and citizen problem-solving offer ways of envisioning work with institutional artisans. Respectful engagement in institutional artisanship may require balancing roles as consultant, teacher, official, or researcher, and thinking through the implications of relationships as peer, partner, advisor, and citizen. Rethinking roles and visions can make social scientists more effective in working with citizens of co-evolving communities in adapting governance of commons."