Tracking the social capital generated by the commons. A proposed theoretical framework for moving towards a caring city

To develop a caring ethic, cities need to engage with citizens to enhance the ways they live together. Commons are valuable allies for city governments in creating social capital that feeds common sense of belonging. They have a ricochet effect throughout the population. This relationship between the commons and their environment helps to create linking-type relationships (Putnam, 2000) with the city. By adding the ricochet effect to the forms of social capital developed by Putnam, this article proposes an analytical framework to explain how commons can shape our cities into caring cities. The proposal’s effectiveness is illustrated by two initiatives run by the Solon Collective in the Ahuntsic-Cartierville district of Montreal (Canada): LocoMotion and citizens protrusions.