Thursday, September 24, 2015

Tragedy of the Commons
by Mary Appophia
 
The tragedy of the commons refers to a dilemma that arises when many people acting individually for their own self interest unknowingly deplete a common resource, and the loss eventually has to be shared by the entire community/ everyone.

The ‘commons’ refers to the common resource which belongs to the society. The resource is usually unregulated and it belongs to the entire group, as a result, everyone has an equal right to use it.  Resources under risk include forests, oceans, fish, environment, non-renewable resources etc.
For instance everyone is free to visit Indian Ocean to satisfy their own interests_ swimming, sunbathing, fishing etc. Common consequences could be that some people may dump papers and waste in the water, while fishermen acting individually may over fish. The end result is that the water becomes polluted and over fishing occurs, and everyone else has to share in the consequences.
Another example is in car ownership. Everyone has the right to own a car, eventually with more people owning personal cars, then there is increased environmental and social problems, including carbon emissions, pollution, accidents, etc.

In the 1800’s when Europe used communal land ownership system, herders were allowed to stock animals. If one individual felt a need to include more animals, then they were free to do so. With time some people felt the need to add more animals for increased production. The land in effect became more congested since livestock were increasing and the land area remaining the same. Consequently overgrazing occurred, leading to land degradation, soil erosion and other negative environmental effects. Whereas one farmer enjoyed the increased yields, the entire community was sharing in the depletion of the common.  

Garrett Hardin in his article published in 1968 titled ‘The tragedy of the Commons’ mentions some factors that contribute to ‘The tragedy of the Commons’. These include systems that advocate for communal ownership of property and reduce the chances of the resource being privatized. When something does not belong to someone in particular chances of it being misused are on the rise. Individuals acting on rational self-interest according to Hardin also contribute to the tragedy of the commons. Because if all members in a group used common resources for their own gain and with no regard for others, all resources would still eventually be depleted. Increased human population, poverty, pollution, are just other examples that lead to ‘The tragedy of the commons’.

The tragedy of the commons has however faced some rejections. Some scholars claim that privatizing resources or putting them under international regulation as a way of reducing their depletion, may put them even at a higher risk since most international organizations act selfishly. Also, they state that resources are better placed in the hands of the community, arguing that most of the best managed resources are managed by the community itself.
Whereas this might be true, we have seen situations where the community unknowingly destroys the resource while trying to improve their lifestyle.

This tragedy though needs not occur. Regulations through laws and policies could be used to manage the resource, including good implementation of those laws/policies.
A good law such as one controlling the type of fishing nets that could be used to prevent fishing of small fishes and other small sea animals.

Education would also play a vital role in ensuring people are aware of their consequences. Traveling in a matatu/ bus, we often see an individual throw plastic bottles/ plastic papers out the window. Another matatu passes, and someone else does the same. With time, we have so many plastic papers and bottles lying along roadsides. In the end, the commons which in this case is the environment is destroyed.
Individuals who share a common resource could also work hand in hand to protect it, for their mutual benefit.

Do you have examples from your local community where tragedy of commons has occurred, or some solutions? Feel free to share :)