The Contested Commons

by Pranab Bardhan

Interdisciplinary work in the social sciences can be challenging. While similar in their research themes, the large variance in the history and methodology of the disciplines has often resulted in inconsistencies in the clarity and comprehension between subjects. The Contested Commons explores the theme of common resources from the perspective of two disciplines that are often considered to have the greatest disparity in the social sciences: Economics and Anthropology. Written by senior scholars in economics, anthropology, and sociology, this volume focuses on the methodological and epistemological approaches to the analysis of local common pool resources ndash; a topic that touches upon economic security, ecological sustainability, identity formation, and participatory decision-making – particularly in the developing world. The essays in this volume illustrate the wide variation in approaches to research itself, both across and within economics and anthropology.