Introduction. Les communs et leurs promesses. Pour une analyse documentée en matière de transition écologique et sociale

The intermediary position of the commons approach—somewhere between public and private management—offers a host of potential benefits, including improved resource management, a more ecological and just society, and emancipation projects. In light of this, it is important for academic research to continue its work of understanding and exploring the conditions necessary for the fulfillment of these promises. In this context, this paper identifies four research perspectives. The first concerns the life cycle of the commons and the associated consequences for the management of shared resources. The second area of interest concerns the question of work and how best to value it, with a view to cementing the commitment of commoners. The third area of interest relates to the acceptance by existing institutional frameworks of the innovations brought about by the commons, and conversely, the risk of co-option and distortion of this inventiveness by these same institutional frameworks. The final perspective concerns the possible contradictions surrounding the management of the natural commons when it requires certain uses to make sacrifices or compromises. The objective of this special issue is to identify and address the blind spots that currently impede the transition toward an ecological and social transformation. By doing so, it will contribute to the development of a more informed analysis of the challenges and opportunities that this transition presents.