Cooperative Principles

 

Everyone has a voice

Everyone has value

Everyone is rewarded at the level of their contribution

Giving and receiving are the same

 

ADAPTED FROM eight design principles for the shared use of [commons] resources formulated by Elinor Ostrom and others.

 

1. As a member I clearly understand for which resources I need to care and with whom I share this responsibility. Cooperative resources are those that we create together, whose use has been guaranteed to everyone.

2. We use the resources that we create, care for, and maintain. We use the means (time, space, technology, and the quantity of a resource) that are available in a given context. As a member I am satisfied that there is a fair relationship between my contributions and the benefits I receive.

3. We enter into or modify our own rules and commitments, and every member can participate in this process. Our commitments serve to create, maintain, and preserve the cooperative to satisfy our needs.

4. We monitor the respect of these commitments within ourselves and sometimes we mandate others whom we trust to help reach this goal. We continually reassess whether our commitments still serve their purpose.

5. We work out appropriate rules for dealing with violations of our commitments. We determine whether and what kinds of sanctions shall be used, depending on the context and severity of a violation.

6. Every member can make use of a means for conflict resolution. We seek to resolve conflicts among us in an easily accessible and straightforward way.

7. We regulate our own affairs, and external authorities respect that.

8. We realize that we are part of a larger whole. Therefore, members and institutions working at different scales are needed to coordinate stewardship and to cooperate with each other.

 

As our circle of exchange increases in size, an increase in value materializes.