El comunal imaginado. De la transición en los usos de la propiedad comunal en el siglo XX, Güejar Sierra, Granada

This article examines the Güejar Sierra, in the province of Granada, as a case study of continuity/change in the management of common lands and as a laboratory for observing how their functionality has evolved in recent decades. The origin-myth of these commons dates to the expulsion of the Moors at the end of 16th century. These woodlands were managed for agro-forestry production from that time up until the early 20th century. Since then, the Güejar Sierra common lands have been managed for other uses, generating new socio-environmental income linked to activities including mining and ski tourism as part of the Sierra Nevada National Park. This land has remained a commons in spite of intense disputes among institutions seeking to control it. Profound changes in the management of these commons have transformed them into a direct source of income for the community. The commons are controlled by the Junta de Propiedad Particular Colectiva, a local institution that represents the entire community. We will analyse both the institutional dimension of its management and changes in functionality during the 20th century, when the commons ceased to be a source of inputs for the rural economy.