Commons Network

📚 Beyond growth Primer series | Out this October

Tackling the polycrisis requires transforming the foundations of our economy. By aligning food systems, welfare structures, and work with postgrowth principles, we can create an economy that: meets our needs without overshooting planetary boundaries; prioritizes care and community; and gives people security and freedom to live dignified, meaningful lives.

Commons Network, together with @oxfamnovib@mastodon.nl is publishing a primer series, exploring how European countries can move beyond growth and reorganize work, food, and welfare systems to secure good lives for all within planetary boundaries.

🚀 Keep your eyes peeled for our upcoming series on best practices and policies for organizing a just transition.
https://www.commonsnetwork.org/2025/10/07/beyond-growth-primer-series/

How can cities thrive by prioritizing wellbeing over endless growth?

Cities Beyond Growth invites you to reimagine urban life through post-capitalist thinking.

Curious? Check out our open-access course Cities Beyond Growth (https://academy.tni.org/) and get inspired by our speakers.

Below, Katherine Trebeck explains why cities are a great entry point for talking about post-growth!

How democratic are cooperatives across Amsterdam?

According to a new study, there are internalised gendered roles and informal power hierarchies across Amsterdam’s energy and housing cooperatives.

In her thesis, Tabea Dick studied how power operates within cooperatives, and how it intersects with gender.

Read more 👉 https://www.commonsnetwork.org/2026/02/24/power-relations-within-amsterdams-energy-and-housing-cooperatives/

💸 More economic growth is not necessarily what we need to create economic security and social wellbeing in Europe.

Instead, together with @oxfamnovib@mastodon.nl, we offer eco-social welfare as an alternative. This approach involves the fair distribution of wealth, power and resources; investments in essential services; and centring of community wealth and practices of care.

Drawing on national and municipal examples across Europe, we highlight key transition paths needed for #decoupling welfare from growth and share strategic insights to advance a welfare agenda rooted in eco-social justice for all.

📕 Read the full policy primer on #Welfare Beyond Growth https://www.commonsnetwork.org/2025/10/22/welfare-beyond-growth-primer-2/

Digitale autonomie staat hoog op de beleidsagenda van Amsterdam. Toch ontbreekt de impact ervan op de bredere economie nog steeds in het debat.

Hoe kan de transitie naar democratische technologie ten goede komen aan de lokale economie? Hoe kunnen we zorgden dat de hele stad, ondernemers, burgers, maatschappelijke initiatieven, onafhankelijke technologie gebruiken die de democratie ten goede komt?

Vandaag publiceren we samen met @waag@waag.social en MeentCoop de Routekaart voor Democratische technologie: een praktische gids die beschrijft hoe Amsterdam democratische technologie kan versterken door te leren van en samen te werken met de gemeenschapseconomie. De routekaart kwam tot stand in opdracht van Economische Zaken van de Gemeente Amsterdam.

📕 Lees hier de routekaart: https://www.commonsnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Een-routekaart-voor-democratische-technologie.pdf
🔗 Lees meer: https://www.commonsnetwork.org/nl/2026/02/09/democratische-technologie-voor-amsterdam/

💻 “We cannot forget the digital dimension because our economy is largely digital now. Just as we need public and civic spaces offline, we need them online.”

Yesterday, we gave a masterclass on Democratic technology. Here, our director Sophie Bloemen introduced what digital commons are and their role for a postgrowth transition, through real world examples and expert insights from:

- sujith nair, the co-creator of the Beckn Protocol, who introduced the possibilities of democratic digital tools and infrastructures that support a post-growth future

- Anna Julià Verdaguer, from Som Mobilitat, who spoke on community-led approaches to technology and data governance

Watch the masterclass: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fd1xu6NnT8o

“Instead of assuming that every sector of our economy needs to grow and create jobs, we need to have a discussion about what we want our economy to deliver - and what kind of jobs and work are needed to get there.”

In the Work Beyond Growth primer, we show that our economy can provide dignified jobs for all in the transition by:
1. Channeling labor and resources away from harmful industry and to essential and transition sectors

2. Workplace democracy & worker cooperatives

3. Enabling fair participation in care work

🔗 Read the full policy primer:
https://www.commonsnetwork.org/2025/10/29/democratising-work-beyond-growth-primer-3/

How should we advance European tech sovereignty under the current undemocratic digital domain?

This is the main question the Democratic Tech Alliance discussed at its second meeting, hosted by MEP Alex Agius Saliba and MEP Axel Voss to advance European tech sovereignity.

Main takeaways from the meeting:
👉 The tools and ideas needed to build a democratic digital future are there. A sovereign Eurostack, for instance, is a helpful framework.
👉There is a potential risk of creating a copy of the US industry with a European twist. We need to create a digital ecosystem that is sovereign and resilient.
👉Digital commons provide a democratic model towards this alternative, and can play an important role in developing digital infrastructure and its management.

Read more https://www.commonsnetwork.org/2025/09/16/how-to-advance-european-tech-sovereignty-takeaways-from-the-european-parliament/

🏠 Tackling housing insecurity should be a priority for the new Dutch coalition government. The solutions are usually presented as simple - just build more housing. However, the story is far more complex.

We need to sharpen our vision around housing and its alternatives. In our latest article, Agata Guńková dives into the story of Wooncoöperatie en Vrijplaats SUP, a collective of cultural workers united around a building in Amsterdam West.

For 10 years, SUP members were allowed to live, create, and build a community under the Leegstandwet; a law intended to provide temporary creative spaces in vacant buildings.

Attempting to turn temporary into permanent, the group strives to establish a housing cooperative to secure long-term accessibility and affordability - a goal which aligns with City of Amsterdam ambition for 10% of the city’s housing to be cooperative by 2040.

Yet, the future of their home remains unclear.

Read our latest article on the case of SUP: https://www.commonsnetwork.org/2025/11/05/housing-cooperatives-in-neoliberal-cities-the-story-of-sup/

How can the European food system ensure dignified livelihoods for farmers and secure the right to food for all within planetary boundaries?

Together with @oxfamnovib@mastodon.nl , we are publishing the Food System Beyond Growth primer, which which shares practices that are in line with a just agricultural transition and postgrowth economy as well as European policies and reforms needed to tackle the social and ecological crisis.

What’s clear is: environmental protection should not be traded off for workers’ protection. European policies must regulate against agri-food oligopoly and strive for food sovereignty, at home and abroad.

Read the Food System Beyond Growth Primer https://www.commonsnetwork.org/2025/10/14/reorganising-the-food-system-beyond-growth-primer-1/

Federico Savini exposes that the reason our economies still depend on growth is because there is a system of powers that want to keep it this way.

Cities Beyond Growth is a free six-week online course that invites you to reimagine urban life through the lens of post-growth thinking, an approach that recognises that more GDP doesn’t always mean better lives, especially when it comes at the cost of social equity and ecological survival.

Register before October 8 via https://academy.tni.org/

The #cooperative movement reclaims local economies and redistributes power. Coops are not abstract ideas, they are existing practices rooted in solidarity, reciprocity, and collective care.

In our latest blog, Tabea Dick showcases three cooperatives from around the world: Mondragon, Up&Go, and SEWA.

We share stories from the cooperative movement 👉https://www.commonsnetwork.org/2025/11/13/stories-from-the-cooperative-movement/

🆕 Out now: Beyond Growth Primer Series

In the first primer of the series, Commons Network, together with @oxfamnovib@mastodon.nl, debunks the political discourse that pits farmers against the transition to a sustainable and resilient food system.

In the Food Beyond Growth Primer:
- We highlight the logic of growth and accumulation in the in the industrial food system;
- Discuss what policies and CAP reforms are needed to tackle the social and ecological crisis in Europe;
- Share practices such as farming models, community economy schemes and decision-making processes in the food system.

📕 Read the Food System Beyond Growth Primer https://www.commonsnetwork.org/2025/10/14/reorganising-the-food-system-beyond-growth-primer-1/

In that political context of simplification and deregulation, how can we ensure data protection and digital regulations not only survive, but are actually enforced in Europe?

Last week, the Democratic Tech Alliance together with FES held its second event in the European Parliament, this time on Data Protection, Democracy, and the Digital Omnibus.

🚀 The Democratic Tech Alliance consists of civil society, businesses and MEPs across parties with the aim to build and value based digital ecosystem.

Read our main take aways of the event: https://www.commonsnetwork.org/2025/09/30/data-protection-democracy-and-the-digital-omnibus-where-do-we-go-from-here/

Katherine Trebeck: How can the economy be an enabler of the sort of lives that people want to live?

Cities Beyond Growth is a six-week online course that invites you to reimagine urban life through the lens of post-growth thinking, an approach that recognises that more GDP doesn’t always mean better lives, especially when it comes at the cost of social equity and ecological survival.

For registration visit https://academy.tni.org

🌿 Werk jij aan een wooncoöperatie, voedselinitiatief, energiecollectief of een ander initiatief in Amsterdam, en loop je tegen uitdagingen aan? Versterk jouw initiatief in het versnellingsprogramma voor de gemeenschapseconomie: https://www.commonsnetwork.org/nl/2025/09/10/versterk-jouw-initiatief-in-het-versnellingsprogramma-voor-de-gemeenschapseconomie/

We are still looking for a board member for politics and advocacy! Are you socially engaged and want to contribute to a caring society and economy?

As a board member, you will help:
- determine the direction of the organization;
- contribute to decision-making by assessing plans for feasibility and social impact,
- and play a meaningful role in shaping a more caring and just future.

📅 Applications close September 20. Join us in shaping a caring and just future! https://www.commonsnetwork.org/2025/09/01/vacancy-board-member-commons-network/

📸 Mark Klaverstijn

🌱Werk jij aan een wooncoöperatie, voedselinitiatief, energiecollectief of een ander initiatief, en loop je tegen uitdagingen aan? Of wil je je initiatief graag verder ontwikkelen en kun je daar wel wat hulp bij gebruiken? Meld je dan aan voor het versnellingsprogramma van MeentCoop en AmsterDOEN!

Het doel van het versnellingsprogramma is om Amsterdamse initiatiefnemers verder te helpen bij hun uitdagingen en/of ontwikkelwensen. MeentCoop en AmsterDOEN maken een op maat gemaakt programma met expertise, tools, en ondersteuning.

Het programma richt zich op bestaande initiatieven en biedt:
✅Ondersteuning bij jouw ontwikkelvraag
✅Toegang tot kennis, tools en expertise
✅Uitwisseling met andere initiatieven
✅Een plek binnen het netwerk van MeentCoop

Tijdens 5 workshops in de periode november 2025 tot en met maart 2026 werken we aan jouw ontwikkelvraag.

Meld je aan voor donderdag 9 oktober 2025 via https://www.commonsnetwork.org/2025/09/10/versterk-jouw-initiatief-in-het-versnellingsprogramma-voor-de-gemeenschapseconomie/

Klaar om mee te werken aan een zorgzamere en rechtvaardigere toekomst? Commons Network is op zoek naar nieuwe bestuursleden!

Als bestuurslid zul je:
🌍 Meebeslissen over de koers van de organisatie
💶 Bijdragen aan de besluitvorming door plannen te beoordelen op haalbaarheid en maatschappelijke impact
⚖️ Een betekenisvolle rol spelen in het vormgeven van een zorgzamere en rechtvaardigere toekomst.

We zijn op zoek naar drie nieuwe bestuursleden:
✨ Bestuurslid voor strategie en het maatschappelijk middenveld
✨ Bestuurslid voor financiën en bedrijfsvoering
✨ Bestuurslid voor politiek en advocacy

📅 Solliciteer vóór 20 september en help ons mee aan het opbouwen van de commons. https://www.commonsnetwork.org/nl/2025/09/01/vacature-bestuurslid-commons-network/

De rode lijn van de avond over digitale democratie in Pakhuis de Zwijger?

Zowel wijzelf als de overheid hebben meer mogelijkheden hebben om verandering te weeg te brengen dan we misschien denken. Het is echter wel zaak om te handelen.

Bekijk het volledige gesprek hier: https://buff.ly/d8ILjYT

We started the first Democratic Tech Alliance Assembly at the Committee of the Regions this morning with workshops and a panel talk.

The Assembly brought together the business community, policymakers, civil society and experts from across Europe to discuss Democratic Tech Solutions.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

New publication!

Vera, Sophie and Florine wrote a think piece for the Journal of Cooperative Studies. For cooperatives to succeed in The Netherlands, the think piece stresses the importance a cooperative ecosystem rooted in a collaborative culture of ownership.

Read it here:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/398787141_Emerging_co-operatives_in_Amsterdam_The_role_of_collaborative_culture_and_institutional_support