In most contexts the definition of commons is based on its theoretical concept of communal commons good rather than its understanding as distributive common good. This problem where common and public good have interchangeable meaning causes problems with application in society as they carry the same logic and create confusion. Meanwhile the sphere of bottom up community remains undefined and precarious and prone to co-option. The case made in this 8 year academic research based on practice in socially engaged urbanism, art and architecture is that we need all 3 spheres to operate within their logic rather than fight for power to overthrow the other I.e Neoliberalism (power of markets) vs nationalism (power of state). This talk uses projects and examples to offer a conceptual framing of commons as its own sphere between the public and the private and the work being done in the physical world to advocate for it.
