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Global Governance of the Oceans

The Global Commons and over-exploitation of marine ecosystems

  • 3 things to know
  • Component 2

Overview

Global commons, tragedy of the commons and common heritage of mankind.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What are the global commons?

Key term

Why are the high seas treated as a global commons?

Numbers

What is the tragedy of the commons?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What are the global commons?

    Model answer

    The global commons are areas beyond national jurisdiction that belong to no single state. The high seas, the atmosphere, Antarctica and outer space are the four usually named.

  2. 2

    Why are the high seas treated as a global commons?

    Model answer

    Ownership of the high seas belongs to no state, and every state may use them. Rules there depend on agreement rather than on any single authority.

  3. 3

    What is the tragedy of the commons?

    Model answer

    Garrett Hardin argued in 1968 that a shared resource is overused because each user gains while all share the cost. High seas fisheries fit the model closely.

  4. 4

    How did Elinor Ostrom challenge that view?

    Model answer

    Elinor Ostrom showed that communities can manage shared resources successfully through their own rules. Clear boundaries, monitoring and graduated sanctions make cooperation work.

  5. 5

    What does common heritage of mankind mean?

    Model answer

    Common heritage of mankind means a resource is held for all states, including those unable to exploit it. Arvid Pardo of Malta proposed the principle for the seabed in 1967.

  6. 6

    Why is the commons idea hard to apply to the ocean?

    Model answer

    Fish move across boundaries and pollution drifts with the currents. Enforcement at sea is expensive and often beyond the state whose waters are affected.

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