North Sea Rising - A Case for Water-Based Commons

North Sea Rising - A Case for Water-Based Commons

In North Sea Rising, editors Nabi Agzamov and Francesca Vanelli argue for a new perspective on regional commons across the North Sea watershed. Through a series of essays, experts and practitioners examine the historical evolution of this dynamic region and its legacy, climate change challenges, and the potential approaches needed to imagine a vision of a resilient and equitable future for the North Sea.

Tom Holbrook’s “A New Hansa?” explores the region’s historical and present-day significance of trade and urban networks, “Mapping the Human-Ocean Nexus” by Di Fang critiques traditional cartography and advocates for biodiversity-focused “ocean thinking”, and Nashin Mahtani’s “To Dream Like a River” highlights the importance of community-led governance. The book concludes with “North Sea Manifesting”, where Agzamov and Vanelli propose a fluid, inclusive governance model that balances ecological and social dimensions. The book challenges conventional notions of territory and governance, advocating for a vision of a North Sea rooted in cooperation, resilience, and environmental equilibrium.

Nabi Agzamov is an architect and urban designer with expertise in urban ecology. He researches sustainable and resilient environments and the relationship between water, ecology, and cities. Francesca Vanelli is an architect and urban planner with land and water governance expertise. She focuses on multi-scalar flood adaptation and the relationship between disaster risk management and urban governance. Nabi and Francesca are PhD candidates, part of the European Doctoral Innovators (REDI) program and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellows.

CONTENT

Introduction

North Sea Formation

North Sea Fragmentation

A New Hansa? Emerging Spatial Challenges in the North Sea Region

Tom Holbrook

Mapping the Human-Ocean Nexus:

Reflections and Reimaginings in the Cartography of Land Reclamation

Di Fang

To Dream Like a River:

Wet Politics for Turbulent Worlds

Nashin Mahtani

North Sea Manifesting

Bibliography

Acknowledgements

Contributors

Texts by Nabi Agzamov, Di Fang, Tom Holbrook, Nashin Mahtani, Francesca Vanelli