From economic crisis to the development of commons: exploring possibilities for resource self-management in agriculture

Abstract

Groundwater is a typical example of a common pool resource (or commons) which faces overexploitation and mismanagement, putting in danger the agricultural production, the farmers’ incomes and the regional economy of the country. Drawing on the framework developed by the 2009 Nobel laureate Elinor Ostrom, this research explores issues of collective management of groundwater, using Thessaly, one of the most important agricultural regions of Greece, as a case study. More specifically, the paper assesses empirically the possibility of user-based management of groundwater used for irrigation purposes. This is done through a survey which explores, inter alia, the views of local stakeholders on the intensity of the water problem, the irrigation practices and the existence of trust-based social relations between the farmers, which are seen as essential for the development of successful, long-enduring, usergovernance solutions. The research reveals a significant lack of trust both among farmers and towards the state and its institutions, which constitutes a deep-seated problem of Greek society and a major hindrance for economic development.