From Grassroot to Global: Community-Based Entrepreneurs Shaping Systemic Change

Abstract: This research explores how community-based entrepreneurs can contribute to the reorganization of natural resource management and find solutions to environmental problems within the current capitalist economy. Recent scholars on post-capitalism, believe that the economy can be organized by different institutions than the market and investigate the role of individuals as catalyst of environmental and social change from the bottom up. By conducting an ethnographic-inspired, qualitative study of the Sunnemo eco-village, the research explores how community-based entrepreneurs have the potential to catalyze social and environmental change through local actions. This study applies Elinor Ostrom’s eight design principles as support for analyzing the community’s local governance structure. The key findings emphasize the importance of defined community boundaries while allowing external visitors to replicate their sustainable lifestyle. Additional findings show that the eco-village is organized as nested enterprises, by collaborating with neighboring communities which support the maintenance of local commons, with a global focus. This study highlights the significance of two design principles in achieving a harmonious balance between the local aspirations and global ambitions of Sunnemo eco-village while emphasizing how community-based entrepreneurs can catalyze social and environmental change