Dzielilimy

Dzielilimy is a term used in Polish-language discourse to describe a principle and practice of distributing resources and responsibilities within a community or organization. It conveys a collective act of division that aims to balance equity, transparency, and mutual accountability.

Etymology: The word is formed from the Polish verb dzielić (to divide) with the first-person plural ending -imy, producing a sense of "we divide." It is a neologism rather than an established linguistic unit.

Usage and context: Dzielilimy has appeared in discussions around participatory budgeting, cooperative governance, and mutual-aid networks. Proponents use it to emphasize joint decision-making about allocation of funds, land, time, or labor, contrasting with top-down ownership or unilateral distribution. In practice, dzielilimy might entail open forums, transparent criteria, co-creation of rules, and shared stewardship of assets or services.

Examples: In a neighborhood association, dzielilimy could guide decisions on allocating a community garden’s plots, where residents collectively decide how plots are assigned and maintained; or in a housing cooperative, it could shape rules for shared facilities and maintenance costs.

Reception: As a relatively new or informal term, dzielilimy lacks formal academic definition and standardized methodology. Critics caution that the concept requires clear governance mechanisms to avoid ambiguity and potential free-riding, while supporters see it as a practical articulation of collaborative ownership.

See also: participatory budgeting, commoning, sharing economy, mutual aid, co-governance.