Digital economy and the rise of open cooperativism: the case of the Enspiral Network

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Pazaitis ◽  
Vasilis Kostakis ◽  
Michel Bauwens
Keyword(s):  
Peer Relations ◽  
Social Entrepreneurship ◽  
Sustainable Livelihoods ◽  
Peer To Peer ◽  
Digital Economy ◽  
Peer Production ◽  
Solidarity Economy ◽  
Union Movement ◽  
The Commons

This article explores how autonomous workers/contributors, involved in peer-to-peer relations, can organise their productive efforts so that they have sustainable livelihoods. The discussion is guided by the concept of ‘open cooperativism’, which argues for a synergy between the commons-based peer production movement and elements of the cooperative and solidarity economy movements. To this end, we review the case of Enspiral, a network of professionals and companies that empowers and supports social entrepreneurship. We explore its values, operation and governance as well as the chosen strategies for autonomy and sustainability. Finally, some lessons are summarised for the cooperative and union movement, which point to open cooperativism as an integrated vision.

scholarly journals THE PARODY OF THE COMMONS

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 28-51
Author(s):  
Vasilis Kostakis ◽  
Stelios Stavroulakis
Keyword(s):  
Peer Relations ◽  
Social Transformation ◽  
Capital Accumulation ◽  
Peer To Peer ◽  
Dominant Mode ◽  
Peer Production ◽  
Economic Relations ◽  
The People ◽  
Long Run ◽  
The Commons

This essay builds on the idea that Commons-based peer production is a social advancement within capitalism but with various post-capitalistic aspects, in need of protection, enforcement, stimulation and connection with progressive social movements. We use theory and examples to claim that peer-to-peer economic relations can be undermined in the long run, distorted by the extraeconomic means of a political context designed to maintain profit-driven relations of production into power. This subversion can arguably become a state policy, and the subsequent outcome is the full absorption of the Commons as well as of the underpinning peer-to-peer relations into the dominant mode of production. To tackle this threat, we argue in favour of a certain working agenda for Commons based communities. Such an agenda should aim the enforcement of the circulation of the Commons. Therefore, any useful social transformation will be meaningful if the people themselves decide and apply policies for their own benefit, optimally with the support of a sovereign partner state. If peer production is to become dominant, it has to control capital accumulation with the aim to marginalise and eventually transcend capitalism.

The Parody of the Commons

2013 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 412-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasilis Kostakis ◽  
Stelios Stavroulakis
Keyword(s):  
Peer Relations ◽  
Social Transformation ◽  
Capital Accumulation ◽  
Peer To Peer ◽  
Dominant Mode ◽  
Peer Production ◽  
Economic Relations ◽  
The People ◽  
Long Run ◽  
The Commons

This essay builds on the idea that Commons-based peer production is a social advancement within capitalism but with various post-capitalistic aspects, in need of protection, enforcement, stimulation and connection with progressive social movements. We use theory and examples to claim that peer-to-peer economic relations can be undermined in the long run, distorted by the extra-economic means of a political context designed to maintain profit-driven relations of production into power. This subversion can arguably become a state policy, and the subsequent outcome is the full absorption of the Commons as well as of the underpinning peer-to-peer relations into the dominant mode of production. To tackle this threat, we argue in favour of a certain working agenda for Commons-based communities. Such an agenda should aim the enforcement of the circulation of the Commons. Therefore, any useful social transformation will be meaningful if the people themselves decide and apply policies for their own benefit, optimally with the support of a sovereign partner state. If peer production is to become dominant, it has to control capital accumulation with the aim to marginalise and eventually transcend capitalism.

scholarly journals The Parody of the Commons

2013 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 412-424
Author(s):  
Vasilis Kostakis ◽  
Stelios Stavroulakis
Keyword(s):  
Peer Relations ◽  
Social Transformation ◽  
Capital Accumulation ◽  
Peer To Peer ◽  
Dominant Mode ◽  
Peer Production ◽  
Economic Relations ◽  
The People ◽  
Long Run ◽  
The Commons

This essay builds on the idea that Commons-based peer production is a social advancement within capitalism but with various post-capitalistic aspects, in need of protection, enforcement, stimulation and connection with progressive social movements. We use theory and examples to claim that peer-to-peer economic relations can be undermined in the long run, distorted by the extra-economic means of a political context designed to maintain profit-driven relations of production into power. This subversion can arguably become a state policy, and the subsequent outcome is the full absorption of the Commons as well as of the underpinning peer-to-peer relations into the dominant mode of production. To tackle this threat, we argue in favour of a certain working agenda for Commons-based communities. Such an agenda should aim the enforcement of the circulation of the Commons. Therefore, any useful social transformation will be meaningful if the people themselves decide and apply policies for their own benefit, optimally with the support of a sovereign partner state. If peer production is to become dominant, it has to control capital accumulation with the aim to marginalise and eventually transcend capitalism.

scholarly journals Introducing the Commons

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-30
Author(s):  
Vangelis Papadimitropoulos
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Architectural Design ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Peer Production ◽  
Cost Information ◽  
Solidarity Economy ◽  
Gig Economy ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
The Commons

This introduction outlines peer production (P2P) as a type of social relations, a technological infrastructure and a new mode of production and property, whereby participants have maximum freedom to co-operate and connect. In the last decades, the author notes that the rise of peer production has been driven by three main factors: the sustainability crisis, neoliberalism and low cost information and communication technologies (ICTs). These factors have led to three main streams of peer production: firm-hosted peer production or platform capitalism (user-centric open innovation business models; the so-called sharing and gig economy); the commons (local and digital commons, the solidarity economy); and a hybrid commons-based peer production operating on the models of platform and open cooperativism. In turn, the author establishes his post-hegemonic perspective, focusing on commons-based P2P which is facilitated today by the architectural design of the Internet. To conclude, Vangelis proposes the book’s intention as to produce a critical dialogue between the different approaches to the commons, putting forth a postcapitalist commons-orientated transition beyond neoliberalism. freedom to co-operate and connect. In the last decades, the author notes that the rise of peer production has been driven by three main factors: the sustainability crisis, neoliberalism and low cost information and communication technologies (ICTs). These factors have led to three main streams of peer production: firm-hosted peer production or platform capitalism (user-centric open innovation business models; the so-called sharing and gig economy); the commons (local and digital commons, the solidarity economy); and a hybrid commons-based peer production operating on the models of platform and open cooperativism. In turn, the author establishes his post-hegemonic perspective, focusing on commons-based P2P which is facilitated today by the architectural design of the Internet. To conclude, Vangelis proposes the book’s intention as to produce a critical dialogue between the different approaches to the commons, putting forth a postcapitalist commons-orientated transition beyond neoliberalism.

scholarly journals From the Communism of Capital to Capital for the Commons: Towards an Open Co-operativism

2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 356-361
Author(s):  
Michel Bauwens ◽  
Vasilis Kostakis
Keyword(s):  
Multinational Enterprises ◽  
Free Software ◽  
Peer Production ◽  
Open Hardware ◽  
Production Models ◽  
Common Ownership ◽  
The Commons ◽  
Governance Models ◽  
The One ◽  
Start Ups

Two prominent social progressive movements are faced with a few contradictions and a paradox. On the one side, we have a re-emergence of the co-operative movement and worker-owned enterprises which suffer from certain structural weaknesses. On the other, we have an emergent field of open and Commons-oriented peer production initiatives which create common pools of knowledge for the whole of humanity, but are dominated by start-ups and large multinational enterprises using the same Commons. Thus we have a paradox: the more communist the sharing license used in the peer production of free software or open hardware, the more capitalist the practice. To tackle this paradox and the aforementioned contradictions, we tentatively suggest a new convergence that would combine both Commons-oriented open peer production models with common ownership and governance models, such as those of the co-operatives and the solidarity economic models.

The ecosystem of commons-based peer production and its transformative dynamics

2018 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 302-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel Bauwens ◽  
Alekos Pantazis
Keyword(s):  
Information Sharing ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Profit Maximization ◽  
Peer To Peer ◽  
Peer Production ◽  
Mutual Dependence ◽  
Production Models ◽  
Peer Dynamics ◽  
Social Creativity

This essay discusses peer-to-peer social dynamics and the relevant technological infrastructures that enable new modes of production. Commons-based peer production is presented as an alternative to the profit-driven peer-to-peer production models of the digital economy. The latter models utilize the peer-to-peer dynamics to harness social creativity, collaboration and information sharing. The created value is then captured and valorized towards profit maximization. This essay argues that there are possibilities for moving away from such extractive models to more generative ones. Commons-based peer production seems to encapsulate both social and environmental sustainability, and thus has the potential to influence such a transition. As commons-based peer production cannot yet reproduce itself outside of a mutual dependence on capitalism, it risks being subordinated. To counter this, a commons-oriented solid and protective ecosystem is needed to fully unleash the creative capabilities of commons-based peer production.

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