Advancing the concept of Democratic Public Ownership

Hanna, Thomas Matthew (2025) Advancing the concept of Democratic Public Ownership. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

This thesis examines and refines the concept of Democratic Public Ownership, which has emerged in both theory and practice in recent years as neoliberalism continues to mutate and falter. While increasingly referenced and discussed in academic, policy, and movement settings, Democratic Public Ownership currently lacks conceptual clarity, coherence, and distinctiveness, and could benefit from heightened scrutiny and development. This thesis reviews the modern literature on Democratic Public Ownership, investigating its connections to, and impact on, political economic shifts and theorizing since the turn of the 21st century (such as the global remunicipalization movement); identifies and analyzes numerous relevant historical and contemporary theories, experiments, and prototypes ranging from the early days of the industrial revolution to the Great Financial Crisis of the late 2000s; locates the concept of Democratic Public Ownership historically and ideologically as part of the broader effort to advance and implement systemically transformative visions of economic democracy, especially as it relates to moving beyond historical and contemporary versions of capitalism; and presents a refined and coherent concept consisting of a novel definition, numerous revised and new principles, and a suggested theory of change. This thesis significantly advances the literature and discourse on Democratic Public Ownership, economic democracy, and democratic participation in the economy more broadly, opening new research directions and serving as an important theoretical steppingstone.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Subjects: H Social Sciences > HB Economic Theory
• Colleges/Schools: College of Social Sciences > Adam Smith Business School > Management
• Supervisor's Name: Cumbers, Professor Andrew and McMaster, Professor Robert
• Date of Award: 2025
• Depositing User: Theses Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:2025-84941
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 03 Mar 2025 13:58
• Last Modified: 03 Mar 2025 14:02
• Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.84941
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/84941