Land-Based Commons for Housing and Inclusive Cities: A Contribution from the Global South. Introduction to the Special Issue

This paper introduces the special issue “land-based commons for housing in the Global South”. It provides an overview of recent literature on commons as applied to land and housing, and proposes a specific analytical framework that highlights three key elements to be examined: the realization of the social function of land and property, the long-term preservation of land at an affordable price, the potential for dissemination and scaling up. The final section discusses the six articles through three cross-cutting questions: communities’ agency and the tools for collective action, the role of public authorities and institutions, and the challenges to sustainability and long-term viability. This collection aims to contribute to the debate on land and housing commons by offering nuanced, empirical insights into the multifaceted dynamics of land and housing management. It also sheds light on the challenges, innovations and socio-political complexities of securing and managing land for housing in various urban contexts in the Global South.