Various authors, including Elinor Ostrom, have shown that the legal form of a cooperative has many of the characteristics of a Common. Here we focus on cooperative conversion, through which conventional enterprises become labor‐managed firms (LMFs), viewing it dynamically as a communalization process. These processes are addressed in the light of a field survey carried out in France, looking at six firms involved in cooperative conversion. The changes entailed are two‐dimensional, both material and mental. This is visible, for example, when finding the capital to mount an LMF: members of the workforce must draw on their own funds; they must also believe in the project. Through our empirical observations we highlight the obstacles in the way of forming an LMF. In particular participants must undertake a work of negotiation hinging on stakes marked by the two, largely inseparable dimensions. Ultimately we query the ethic brought into play in the collective action of constituting a Common. Specifically, individuals must contribute to a collective action underpinned by principles of self‐governance, or commoning, the rock on which the Common rests. A key finding of our study is to demonstrate that a Common can only be successfully created if the constituent processes are consistent with the overall goal. In other words the manner in which we travel is inseparable from our final destination; otherwise we shall surely lose our way.

中文翻译：

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合作转化和社区化：密切观察物质与心理之间的相互作用

包括埃琳诺·奥斯特罗姆（Elinor Ostrom）在内的各种作者都表明，合作社的法律形式具有共同体的许多特征。在这里，我们关注于合作社转换，通过这种转换，传统企业变成了劳动力管理公司（LMFs），并将其动态地视为一个社区化过程。这些过程是根据在法国进行的现场调查（涉及六家参与合作转换的公司）解决的。所发生的变化是二维的，既是物质的又是精神的。例如，这在寻找建立LMF的资本时可见：劳动力成员必须动用自己的资金；他们还必须相信该项目。通过我们的经验观察，我们突出了形成LMF的障碍。特别是，参与者必须就这两个主要是不可分割的方面所标的股权进行谈判。最终，我们质疑在组成普通法院的集体行动中发挥作用的道德。具体而言，个人必须为以自治或共同原则为基础的集体行动做出贡献，共同原则是共同国家赖以生存的基础。我们研究的一个关键发现是证明，只有当组成过程与总体目标一致时，才能成功创建共同体。换句话说，我们的旅行方式与最终目的地密不可分。否则我们一定会迷路的。个人必须为以自治或共同原则为基础的集体行动作出贡献，共同原则是共同国家赖以生存的基础。我们研究的一个关键发现是证明，只有当组成过程与总体目标一致时，才能成功创建共同体。换句话说，我们的旅行方式与最终目的地密不可分。否则我们一定会迷路的。个人必须为以自治或共同原则为基础的集体行动作出贡献，共同原则是共同国家赖以生存的基础。我们研究的一个关键发现是证明，只有当组成过程与总体目标一致时，才能成功创建共同体。换句话说，我们的旅行方式与最终目的地密不可分。否则我们一定会迷路的。