Given rapid changes in large-scale human and biophysical processes - carbon emissions, population increase and migrations, overharvesting and pollution leading to loss of species - scientists are worried that many of the social-ecological systems existing today may collapse by the end of the...

1. An accidental life? -- 2. Signs and wonders -- 3. On method -- 4. Au contraire, Monsieur Hardin! -- 5. Green from the grassroots : social-ecological systems -- 6. Knowledge commons -- 7. The political economy of the commons in physical goods -- 8. Politics without romance -- 9. A new science...