Bystämman som en mötesplats för jordägarna : En lokalhistorisk undersökning om de gemensamma resurserna inom Benestad byalag åren 1886-1928

Sammanfattning: This study examines the organization of the village society in Benestad, in southern Sweden, during the period from 1886 to 1928. The study focuses on the commonly owned resources in the village and how the landowners there came together and shared the resources. By studying the records of the societies’ meetings, and in particular the cases that concerns the common resources, a categorization has been done.   The results of the study show that the landowners in Benestad shared pasture lands, milk carriage and other resources with one another. Overall, the village society had a strong organization with at least two yearly meetings about the commonly owned resources. Not everyone was however welcomed to the meetings and the wives and children had to trust their housemaster to also consider their interests. By comparing the results with Elinor Ostrom’s theory of eight design principles that unites all stabile institutions that handle commonly owned resources, one can say that the village society in Benestad was a stabile establishment. In fact, the society is still active - even if the landowners nowadays deal with other matters than those of the milk carriage.