Factors influencing the effectiveness of collective action for the sustainability of the local commons: Toward an integrated framework

Abstract

Abstract The common-pool resources that are indispensable for our life is under unprecedented threat. Investigating the factors influencing the effectiveness of collective actions for sustainability of the local commons are both urgent and critical. However, up to now most of the key explanatory factors are limited to the ones initially advocated by Elinor Ostrom of which the individual level and psychological factors have weakly developed. This present research extends the knowledge in this area by advancing a new framework of explanatory factors of effective collective actions for the sustainability of the local commons integrating complementary insights from social, environmental and neural psychology with theory of collective actions of the commons. A qualitative methodology based on two stages of literature review was conducted. The study proposed an integrated framework consisting of three main factors of (1) initial conditions (biophysical conditions in needs of improving, financial capital, physical and social infrastructure); (2) institutional design (inclusion of environmentally relevant knowledge, deliberative collaboration process, collaborative social network, and social norms); and (3) psychological state (eco-centric and anthropocentric values, efficacy, memory of human-nature connection and positive emotions). It is revealed that psychological state in alignment with initial conditions and institutional design is the most consequential under-leveraged factor that explain the sustained effectiveness of collective actions. Conditions for the success of the framework are elaborated with illustration from a case study. Ultimately, the paper aims to enhance the impact of collaborative actions and empower the environmental stewards to conserve the local commons for human and planetary health.