Conference Social and Solidarity Economy and the Commons 2025 (SSEC)
Book of Abstracts
Report from the field- Title
A Emergência das Organizações de Comuns
The Emergence of Commons Organizations
This report is part of the book:
Thematic field
Maybe on 5: “Supporting grassroots resistance…”.
Abstract
This report presents the emergence of Commons Societies in Portugal as an innovative response to the systemic crisis of modern socio-political and ecological models. Rooted in real-life experimentation, this vision draws from four interconnected experiences: João Sem Medo (a community of evolutionary entrepreneurs – cooperative), Homeostase (a self management company), Fundação Terra Agora (a civic foundation for land stewardship), and Centro Ecológico Alcanforado (a living lab for initiation youth to adulthood and regenerative societies – social enterprise as an association and a company design). These initiatives emerged in the wake of economic, environmental, and civic disillusionment in Portugal, particularly after the 2008 financial crisis. They reflect a broader global movement questioning the sustainability of capitalist-industrial systems and exploring new forms of governance, property, and value creation. Portugal’s cultural legacy of community-based life and recent democratic stability provides fertile ground for Commons-based experimentation and organization.
Politically, these projects reclaim local governance and democratic agency through participatory and sociocratic methods. Environmentally, they adopt regenerative design (e.g. permaculture, bioregionalism) to go beyond sustainability and actively restore ecosystems. Societally, they promote new relational cultures based on emotional intelligence, non-violent agency and activism, and co-creation. Together, they form the groundwork for a Commons Society map.
The main challenges include cultural inertia, legal and institutional rigidity, burnout among pioneers, and the difficulty of scaling without compromising values. Financial sustainability also remains a critical obstacle in transitioning from pilot to systemic adoption. Commons-based models may offer a viable alternative for post-capitalist transitions. Emerging alliances between regenerative projects, public institutions, and academic actors suggest potential for broader societal transformation. Portugal is uniquely positioned to lead this transition, drawing from both its historical commons and contemporary innovation.
References
- Abreu, M. de. (2025). A emergência das sociedades de comuns (em Portugal). Bambual Editora.
- Hassan, Z. (2014). The Social Labs Revolution: A New Approach to Solving Our Most Complex Challenges. Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
- Scharmer, C. O. (2009). Theory U: Leading from the Future as It Emerges. Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
- Mang, P., & Haggard, B. (2016). Regenerative Development and Design: A Framework for Evolving Sustainability. Wiley.
- Callahan, C. (2019). Conscious Feelings: A Path to Emotional Clarity. Next Culture Press.