Urban Commons in Practice: Seven Dilemmas of Collective Action for Socio-ecological Sustainability in Cities

Urban commons, as collectively governed resources, have substantial potential to contribute to socio-ecological sustainability. As alternatives to state- or market-led resource governance, they can address inequalities in access to and use of resources, including affordable housing, green space, and healthy food. Givern their ambitious goals and alternative governance approaches, urban commons are often praised as democratic, inclusive, and not-for-profit forms of resistance to neoliberalism. However, idealizing commons risks overlooking the compromises and practical challenges involved in sustaining collective action. This paper examines these challenges by conceptualizing conflicts among values, goals, and organizational needs of urban commons as dilemmas. Using a mixed-methods research design combining an online survey (n = 118) and two sets of semi-structured interviews (n = 25 and n=9) with representatives of urban commons in Switzerland, we identify seven recurring dilemmas: (1) collective commitment versus individual freedom, (2) openness and inclusivity versus manageability, (3) horizontal democracy versus efficiency, (4) socio-ecological values versus financial viability, (5) voluntary participation versus professionalization, (6) independence versus capacity through support, and (7) value-based community versus wider impact through growth. These dilemmas reveal that urban commons are neither purely autonomous alternatives to the market and the state nor their simple add-ons. Rather, they are continuously negotiated organizational forms that seek to preserve transformative principles while maintaining the resources, structures, and relationships needed for their continuity and broader impact. This nuanced understanding offers insights for planning and policymakers to alleviate pressures of commons and strengthen their potential for socio-ecological sustainability and democratic governance in cities.