collectives

A collective is a group of individuals who unite to pursue shared goals and manage resources collectively. Collectives emphasis egalitarian participation, often with non-hierarchical or rotating leadership and an emphasis on shared decision-making. They occur in many sectors, including labor, arts, housing, and community projects, and may adopt various legal forms, from informal associations to formal cooperatives.

Decision-making in collectives commonly relies on consensus, voting, or sociocratic methods. Roles and responsibilities are distributed to avoid rigid hierarchies, though some collectives designate coordinators or stewards on a rotating basis. Profits, surplus, or benefits are typically distributed according to contribution, need, or agreed rules, and resources are shared or pooled for collective use.

Common types include worker cooperatives, where employees own and manage the business; artist or cultural collectives that collaborate on projects; housing collectives or housing co-ops that jointly own and manage property; and consumer or agricultural collectives that coordinate purchases or production. Federations or networks of collectives can coordinate standards and mutual aid.

Advantages of collectives include shared risk, mutual support, inclusive decision-making, and resilience through cooperation. Challenges include slow decision processes, free-rider problems, fundraising, legal recognition, and balancing individual and collective needs. The governance and legal framework can influence what forms a collective can take in a given jurisdiction.