Date of Award

12-1-2023

Language

English

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

College/School/Department

Department of Geography and Planning

Dissertation/Thesis Chair

Kate S. Coddington

Committee Members

Alexander Buyantuev, David A. Banks

Keywords

Albany, commons, enclosures, political ecology, seeds

Subject Categories

Geography

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this thesis, commons theory is utilized to critically assess the impact of the expanding consolidation of the global seed industry on the seed's status as a common resource. Various understandings of the commons are considered and contradictions and recent insights into the significance of relational dynamics in commons governance are acknowledged. I argue that our daily interactions are instrumental in reconstructing the commons and act as transitional ways of relating that can guide us toward future economies. I use instances of cooperation in the Capital Region, as well as existing seed commons at both local and global scales, to consider the complexity in reclaiming not only the commons, but collective action itself.

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