Commons, Commodities, and Capitalism

The vanishing of the commons is associated with not only a proletarianization of petty producers but also a change in the pattern of resource use in accordance with the demands of the world market. It is an instance of primitive accumulation of capital that is called forth by the spread of commodity production and does not occur suddenly or gratuitously. It is a feature of capitalism both at its birth and throughout its life. Commodity production as a sui generis process, not to be confused with mere production for the market, has a spontaneous character that even afflicts economies seeking to pursue socialism but caught in its grip.