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Is Cosmolocalization the new globalization Michel Bauwens EPOG Joint seminar – February 3, 2016 Abstract For the last fifteen years, a new form of value creation and distribution has emerged, which fully uses the potential of the democratized access to the networks , i.e. commons based peer production. While this new form is mostly instrumentalized and utilized by extractive firms it has also generated a multitude of emerging postcorporate forms that combine open and contributory global communities, along with new kinds of entrepreneurial coalitions and forbenefit governance institutions, that are challenging the dominant model. By combining the open knowledge, with generative business models that maintain and develop the common resource and the livelihood creation around it, with sustainable circular economy practices, they also offer an answer to the systemic challenge of the present system and its weight on the biospheric integrity of the planet. In this new model, the global open design communities are seen in conjunction with the potential of distributed manufacuring in relocalized microfactories. In this talk we will discuss the potential and difficulties of this new cosmolocalized model of production, in which 'what is heavy is local and what is light is global. Recommended readings (reproduced in the following pages): http://bollier.org/blog/tencommandmentspeerproductionandcommonseconomics And the update with this more recent overview of last year's developments : http://commonstransition.org/top10p2ptrends2015

BAUWENS JS 20160203 - cepn-paris13.fr€¦ · Peer!production!is!based!on!distributed!tasks,!freely!contributed!by!a!open!community2 driven collaborative infrastructure. The tradition

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Page 1: BAUWENS JS 20160203 - cepn-paris13.fr€¦ · Peer!production!is!based!on!distributed!tasks,!freely!contributed!by!a!open!community2 driven collaborative infrastructure. The tradition

   

Is  Cosmo-­‐localization  the  new  globalization    

Michel  Bauwens    

EPOG  -­‐  Joint  seminar  –  February  3,  2016    

 

Abstract    For   the   last   fifteen   years,   a   new   form  of   value   creation   and  distribution  has   emerged,  which  fully  uses  the  potential  of  the  democratized  access  to  the  networks  ,  i.e.  commons-­‐based  peer  production.  While  this  new  form    is  mostly    instrumentalized  and  utilized  by  extractive  firms  it  has  also  generated  a  multitude  of  emerging  post-­‐corporate  forms  that  combine   open   and   contributory   global   communities,   along   with   new   kinds   of  entrepreneurial  coalitions  and   for-­‐benefit  governance   institutions,   that  are  challenging  the   dominant   model.   By   combining   the   open   knowledge,   with   generative   business  models   that   maintain   and   develop   the   common   resource   and   the   livelihood   creation  around  it,  with  sustainable  circular  economy  practices,  they  also  offer  an  answer  to  the  systemic   challenge  of   the  present   system  and   its  weight  on   the  biospheric   integrity  of  the   planet.   In   this   new   model,   the   global   open   design   communities   are   seen   in  conjunction  with  the  potential  of  distributed  manufacuring  in  relocalized  microfactories.  In   this   talk   we   will   discuss   the   potential   and   difficulties   of   this   new   cosmo-­‐localized  model  of  production,  in  which  'what  is  heavy  is  local  and  what  is  light  is  global.      Recommended  readings  (reproduced  in  the  following  pages):    http://bollier.org/blog/ten-­‐commandments-­‐peer-­‐production-­‐and-­‐commons-­‐economics      And  the  update  with  this  more  recent  overview  of  last  year's  developments  :  http://commonstransition.org/top-­‐10-­‐p2p-­‐trends-­‐2015                

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Text  to  be  read      

Ten   Commandments   of   Peer   Production   and   Commons  Economics  by  David  Bollier  (Wed,  10/28/2015  -­‐  15:49)  Source  :   http://bollier.org/blog/ten-­‐commandments-­‐peer-­‐production-­‐and-­‐commons-­‐economics    

For  the  Uncommons  conference  in  Berlin  on  October  23,  Michel  Bauwens  recently  distilled  his  years  of  thinking  about  digital  collaboration  into  a  short  text,  “Ten  Commandments  of  Peer  Production  and  Commons  Economics.”    The  document  describes  the  key  pillars  of  “a  mode  of  production  and  value  creation  that  is  free,  fair  and  sustainable.”    I  am  reproducing  his  entire  text  here  because  I  think  it  is  so  succinct  and  seminal.  

As   we   have   tried   to   show   elsewhere,   the   emergence   of  Commons-­‐Oriented   Peer  Production  has  generated  the  emergence  of  a  new  logic  of  collaboration  between  open  productive   communities   who   created   shared   resources   (commons)   through  contributions,   and   those  market-­‐oriented   entities   that   created   added   value   on   top   or  along  these  shared  commons.  

This   article   addresses   the   emerging   practices   that   should   inspire   these   entities   of   the  'ethical'  economy.  The  main  aim   is   to  create  new  forms  that  go  beyond  the   traditional  corporate   form   and   its   extractive   profit-­‐maximizing   practices   of   value   extraction.  Instead   of   extractive   forms   of   capital,   we   need   generative   forms,   that   co-­‐create   value  with  and  for  the  commoners.  

I   am  using   the   form  of   commandments   to   explain   the  new  practices.  All   of   them  have  already  emerged  in  various  forms,  but  need  to  be  generalized  and  integrated.  

What   the  world   and  humanity,   and   all   those   beings   that   are   affected  by   our   activities  require   is   a   mode   of   production,   and   relations   of   production,   that   are   “free,   fair   and  sustainable”  at  the  same  time.  

OPEN  AND  FREE  

1.  Thou  shall  practice  Open  Business  Models  based  on  shared  knowledge  

Closed  business  models  are  based  on  artificial  scarcity.  Though  knowledge  is  a  non-­‐  or  anti-­‐rival  good  that  gains  in  use  value  the  more  it  is  shared,  and  though  it  can  be  shared  easily  and  at  very  low  marginal  cost  when  it  is  in  digital  form,  many  extractive  firms  still  use  artificial   scarcity   to   extract   rents   from   the   creation  or  use  of  digitized  knowledge.  Through  legal  repression  or  technological  sabotage,  naturally  shareable  goods  are  made  

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artificially  scarce,  so  that  extra  profits  can  be  generated.  This  is  particularly  galling  in  the  context   of   life-­‐saving   or   planet-­‐regenerating   technological   knowledge.   The   first  commandment   is   therefore   the   ethical   commandment   of   sharing  what   can   be   shared,  and  only  creating  market  value   from  resources  that  are  scarce  and  create  added  value  on   top  or   along   these   commons.  Open  business  models   are  market   strategies   that   are  based  on  the  recognition  of  natural  abundance  and  the  refusal  to  generate  income  and  profits  by  making  them  artificially  scarce.  

Thou  shall  find  more  information  on  this  here  at  :  http://p2pfoundation.net/Category:Business_Models  

FAIR  

2.  Thou  shall  practice  Open  Cooperativism  

Many  new  more  ethical  and  generative  forms  are  being  created,  that  have  a  higher  level  of  harmony  with   the  contributory  commons.  The  key  here   is   to  choose  post-­‐corporate  forms  that  are  able  to  generate  livelihoods  for  the  contributing  commoners.  

Open   cooperatives   in   particular   would   be   cooperatives   that   share   the   following  characteristics:  

1)   they   are  mission-­‐oriented   and   have   a   social   goal   that   is   related   to   the   creation   of  shared  resources  

2)   they   are  multi-­‐stakeholder   governed,   and   include   all   those   that   are   affected   by   or  contributing  to  the  particular  activity  

3)   they   constitutionally,   in   their   own   rules,   commit   to   co-­‐create   commons   with   the  productive  communities  

I   often   add   the   fourth   condition   that   they   should   be   global   in   organisational   scope   in  order  to  create  counter-­‐power  to  extractive  multinational  corporations.  

Cooperatives  are  one  of  the  potential  forms  that  commons-­‐friendly  market  entities  could  take.   We   see   the   emergence   of   more   open   forms   such   as   neo-­‐tribes   (think   of   the  workings   of   the   Ouishare   community),   or   more   tightly   organized   neo-­‐builds,   such   as  Enspiral.org,   Las   Indias   or   the   Ethos   Foundation.   Yet  more   open   is   the   network   form  chose   by   the   Sensorica   open   scientific   hardware   community,   which   wants   to   more  tightly   couple   contributions   with   generated   income,   by   allowing   all   micro-­‐tasked  contributions   in   the   reward   system,   through   open   value   or   contributory   accounting  (more  below).  

Thou  shall  find  more  information  on  this  at  :  http://p2pfoundation.net/Category:Open_Company_Formats  

3.  Thou  shall  practice  Open  Value  Accounting  or  Contributory  Accounting  

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Peer  production  is  based  on  distributed  tasks,  freely  contributed  by  a  open  community-­‐driven   collaborative   infrastructure.   The   tradition   of   salaries   based   on   fixed   job  description  may   not   be   the  most   appropriate  way   to   reward   those   that   contribute   to  such   processes.   Hence   the   emergence   of   open   value   accounting   or   contributory  accounting.  As  practiced  already  by  Sensorica,  this  means  that  any  contributor  may  add  contributions,   log   them   according   to   project   number,   and   after   peer   evaluation   is  assigned   'karma   points'.   When   income   is   generated,   it   flows   into   these   weighted  contributions,  so  that  every  contributor  is  fairly  rewarded.  Contributory  accounting,  or  other  similar  solutions,  are  important  to  avoid  that  only  a  few  contributors  more  closely  related   to   the   market,   capture   the   value   that   has   been   co-­‐created   by   a   much   larger  community.   Open   book   accounting   insure   that   the   (re)distribution   of   value   is  transparent  for  all  contributors.  

Thou  shall  find  more  information  on  this  at  :  http://p2pfoundation.net/Category:P2P_Accounting  

4.   Thou   shall   insure   fair   distribution   and  Benefit-­‐Sharing  of   commonly   created  value  through  CopyFair  Licenses.  

The  copyleft  licenses  allow  anyone  to  re-­‐use  the  necessary  knowledge  commons  on  the  condition   that   changes  and   improvements  are  added   to   that   same  commons.  This   is   a  great  advance,  but  should  not  be  abstracted  from  the  need  for  fairness.  When  moving  to  physical  production  which   involves   finding   resources   for  buildings,   raw  materials   and  payments   to   contributors,   the   unfettered   commercial   exploitation   of   such   commons  favours  extractive  models.  Thus  the  need  to  maintain  the  knowledge  sharing,  but  to  ask  reciprocity   for   the   commercial   exploitation   of   the   commons,   so   that   there   is   a   level  playing   field   for   the   ethical   economic   entities   that   do   internalize   social   and  environmental   costs.   This   is   achieved   through   copyfair   licenses  which,  while   allowing  full   sharing   of   the   knowledge,   ask   for   reciprocity   in   exchange   for   the   right   of  commercialization.  

Thou  shall  find  more  information  on  this  at  :  http://p2pfoundation.net/Category:Licensing  

5.   Thou   shall   practice   solidarity   and   mitigate   the   risks   of   life   and   work  through  Commonfare  practices.  

As   one   of   the   strong   results   of   financial   and   neo-­‐liberal   globalization,   the   power   of  nation-­‐states  has  gradually  weakened,  and  there  is  now  a  strong  and  integrated  effort  to  unwind  the  solidarity  mechanisms  that  were  embedded  in  the  welfare  state  models.  As  long   as   we   do   not   have   the   power   to   reverse   this   slide,   it   is   imperative   that   we  reconstruct  solidarity  mechanisms  of  distributed  scope,  a  practice  which  we  could  call  'commonfare'.  Examples  such  as  the  Broodfonds  (NL),  Friendsurance  (Germany)  and  the  health  sharing  ministries  (U.S.),  or  cooperative  entities  such  Coopaname  in  France,  show  us  the  new  forms  of  distributed  solidarity  that  can  be  developed  to  deal  with  the  risks  of  life  and  work.  

Thou  shall  find  more  information  on  this  at  :  http://p2pfoundation.net/Category:P2P_Solidarity  

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SUSTAINABLE  

6.   Thou   shall   use   open   and   sustainable   designs   for   an  Open   Source   Circular  Economy  

Open   productive   communities   insure  maximum  participation   through  modularity   and  granularity.   Because   they   operate   in   a   context   of   shared   and   abundant   resources,   the  practice  of  planned  obsolescence,  which  is  not  a  bug  but  a  feature  for  profit-­‐maximizing  corporations,   is  alien   to   them.  Ethical  entrepreneurial  entities  will   therefore  use   these  open  and  sustainable  designs  and  produce  sustainable  good  and  services.  

Thou  shall  find  more  information  on  this  at  :  http://p2pfoundation.net/Category:Design  

7.   Thou   shall   move   beyond   an   exclusive   reliance   on   imperfect   market   price  signals   towards   mutual   coordination   of   production   through  Open   Supply  Chains  and  Open  Book  Accounting  

What   decision-­‐making   is   for   planning,   and   pricing   is   for   the   market,   mutual  coordination  is  for  the  commons!  

We   will   never   achieve   a   sustainable   'circular   economy',   in   which   the   output   of   one  production  process  is  used  as  an  input  for  another,  with  closed  value  chains  and  where  every   cooperation   has   to   be   painfully   negotiated   in   the   conditions   of   lack   of  transparency.   But   entrepreneurial   coalitions   who   are   already   co-­‐dependent   on   a  collaborative   commons   can   create   eco-­‐systems   of   collaboration   through   open   supply  chains,  in  which  the  production  processes  become  transparent,  and  through  which  every  participant  can  adapt  his  behaviour  based  on   the  knowledge  available   in   the  network.  There   is   no   need   for   over-­‐production   when   the   production   realities   of   the   network  become  common  knowledge.  

Thou  shall  find  more  information  on  this  at  :  http://p2pfoundation.net/Category:Mutual_Coordination  

8.  Thou  shall  practice  Cosmo-­‐Localization.  

“What  is   light   is  global,  and  what  is  heavy  is   local”:  this   is  the  new  principle  animating  commons-­‐based  peer  production  in  which  knowledge  is  globally  shared,  but  production  can   take  place  on  demand  and  based  on   real   needs,   through   a  network  of   distributed  coworking   and   microfactories.   Certain   studies   have   shown   that   up   to   two-­‐thirds   of  matter   and   energy   does   not   go   to   production,   but   to   transport,   which   is   clearly  unsustainable.  A   return   to   relocalized  production   is   a   since  qua  non   for   the   transition  towards  sustainable  production.  

Thou  shall  find  more  information  on  this  at  :  http://p2pfoundation.net/Category:Sustainable_Manufacturing  

9.  Thou  shall  mutualize  physical  infrastructures.  

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Platform  cooperatives,  data  cooperatives  and  fairshares  forms  of  distributed  ownership  can  be  used  to  co-­‐own  our  infrastructures  of  production.  

The   misnamed   'sharing   economy'   from   AirBnB   and   Uber   nevertheless   shows   the  potential  of  matching  idle  resources.  Co-­‐working,  skillsharing,  ridesharing  are  examples  of  the  many  ways  in  which  we  can  re-­‐use  and  share  resources  to  dramatically  augment  the  thermo-­‐dynamic  efficiencies  of  our  consumption.  

In   the   right   context   of   co-­‐ownership   and   co-­‐governance,   a   real   sharing   economy   can  achieve  dramatic  advances  in  reduced  resource  use.  Our  means  of  production,  inclusive  machines,  can  be  mutualized  and  self-­‐owned  by  all  those  that  create  value.  

Thou  shall  find  more  information  on  this  at:  http://p2pfoundation.net/Category:Sharing  

10.  Thou  shall  mutualize  generative  capital.  

Generative   forms  of   capital   cannot   rely  on  a  extractive  money  supply   that   is  based  on  compound  interest  that  is  due  to  extractive  banks.  We  have  to  abolish  the  38%  financial  tax   that   is   owed   on   all   goods   and   services   and   transform   our   monetary   system,   and  substantively  augment  the  use  of  mutual  credit  systems.  

Thou  shall  find  more  information  on  this  at  :  http://p2pfoundation.net/Category:Peerfunding  

     

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Top  10  P2P  Trends  of  2015  by  Michel  Bauwens  (Dec  31,  2015)  Source  :  http://commonstransition.org/top-­‐10-­‐p2p-­‐trends-­‐2015/    

 

We   live   in   a   contradictory   world,   just   as   it   is   undoubtedly   true   that   problems   are  worsening   in   the  dominant  system  —  including  ecological  destruction,   increased   social  inequality,   and   increased   state   repression  —  just   as   true   is   the   fact   that   there   is   an  exponential  rise  in  the  creation  of  non-­‐state,  non-­‐corporate  initiatives  in  which  citizens  the  world  over  are  taking  matters  into  their  own  hands.  Many  of  the  below  trends  were  identified  last  year  —  we  only  mention  them  again  here  if  they  significantly  matured.  

Perhaps  the  main  negative  development  in  the  field  of  p2p,  and  the  commons,  was  the  abandoning  of  the  transformative  change  program  by  Syriza,  which  highlights  the  failure  of  the  traditional  Left  to  believe  in  its  own  promise  for  transition.  This  points  to  a  strong  need   for   a   renewal   of   politics   around   a   Commons   Transition  program.   It   is   therefore  particularly   heartening   to   see   the   simultaneous   creation   this   year   of   several   local  commons  groups,  such  as  Assemblies  and  Chambers  of  the  Commons.  

There  is  much  to  rejoice  in  the  list  below.  There  is  now  a  palette  of  p2p-­‐based  solutions  that   can   be   used   by  those   that   are   serious   about   reconstructing   our   world  with  distributed   infrastructures,  shared   resources   and   commons,   and   livelihoods  around  such  engagements.  

We’re  particularly  happy  this  year  to  see  the  strengthening  of  post-­‐corporate  business  eco-­‐systems   such   as   Enspiral   that   are   co-­‐creating   commons.   As   we   confront   climate  change,   the   capacity   to   drastically   reduce   consumption  while   supporting   decent  lives  point   to   the   need   to   use   peer   production  to   dramatically   augment   the   “thermo-­‐dynamic  efficiencies”  of  our  current  production  system.  While  we  are  in  the  early  stages  of   a   transition   from   the   failing   old   system   to   a   new   one,   the   good   news   is   that   the  transition  has  started  nearly  everywhere  —  civil  society  is  responding  to  the  combined  market  and  state  failures.  

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Refugee  Action  protest,  Melbourne.  Image  by  Takver  

1.   Poor-­‐to-­‐Poor,   Peer-­‐to-­‐Peer:   The   year   of   self-­‐organized   mass   migration   and  “trans-­‐migrants”  

This   was   the   year   in   which   mass   migrations   of   millions   of   war   refugees   [1]   were  organized  by   social  media   (specifically   through   secret  Facebook   groups)   and   in  which  scores  of  citizens  organized   themselves   through  peer-­‐to-­‐peer  networks   to  assist   them.  This   is   also   the   year   of   publication   of   a   major   book   on   transmigration,   i.e.   the  movements  of  people  who  come  to  the  West  not  to  stay,  but  in  rotational  organization,  often   organized   as   ethnic   and   religious   phyles,   as   documented   in   the   book   by   Alain  Tarrius,  entitled,  Etrangers  de  passage.  Poor  to  poor,  peer  to  peer  [2]  (Editions  de  l’Aube,  2015).   The   P2P   in   the   subtitle   is   justified   by   the   absolutely   essential   role   that   the  Internet   plays   in   all   stages   of   these   circuits   —  for   example,   from   taking   orders   for  Chinese   electronics  to  warning   at  which  market   at  which   time   they  will   be   delivered.  One   example   many   Europeans   may   be   familiar   with   are   the   indigenous   people   from  Otavallo,   Ecuador   —  with   their   pan-­‐flute   music   and   sale   of   Alpacca   wool   in   many  European   cities   with   over   40,000   people  —  who   are   responsible   for   one   third   of   the  local  GDP;  and  also  the  Sufi  brotherhoods  from  Senegal,  selling  not-­‐so-­‐authentic  luxury  goods  on  the  continent’s  beaches.  Tarius  has  uncovered  many  such  circuits,  linking  the  poor  of  the  Global  South,  to  the  immigrant  neighborhoods  of  Western  countries.  

From  the  ethnic  and  religious  phyles  described  here  —  i.e.  business  ecosystems  at   the  service  of   communities   and   their   commons  —  we  move   to  our  next   trend,  which   sees  similar  ecosystems  now  evolving  for  affinity-­‐based  peer  production  communities.  

• For  P2P  Foundation  documentation,  see  our  P2P  Solidarity  Section  

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From  left:  Sophie  Jerram  (Letting  Space),  Michel  Bauwens  (P2P  Foundation)  and  Alanna  Krause  (Enspiral  Foundation).  

2.  Inspired  by  Enspiral:  The  further  maturation  of  post-­‐corporate  entrepreneurial  coalitions  

The   ethnic   and   religious   phyles   cited   above   are   mirrored   by   the   strengthening   of  affinity-­‐based  commons-­‐oriented  business  eco-­‐systems.  

We  mentioned  their  emergence  as  one  of  the  great  trends  of  2014,  and  they  have  mostly  continued   to   grow   and  mature.   Beyond   the   corporation,   there   are   now   budding   seed  forms   of   post-­‐corporate   business   eco-­‐systems   that   are   creating   livelihoods   for  productive  communities  and  their  commons,  such  as  Enspiral  with  Loomio  and  the  open  hardware  designs  of  Sensorica.  

This  year,  I  visited  Enspiral  in  their  heartland  of  New  Zealand,  seeing  them  up  close  and  I  very  much  liked  what  I  saw.  

Here’s  a  good  description  from  Josef  Davies-­‐Coates:  

Enspiral   is   made   up   of   three   parts:   The   Enspiral   Foundation,   Enspiral   Services,   and  Startup  Ventures.   I’d   say   they’re   the  best   current   example  of   an  Open  Co-­‐op,   but  how  they  actually  describe  themselves  is  as  “a  virtual  and  physical  network  of  companies  and  professionals  working   together   to   create   a   thriving   society”   and   as   an   “experiment   to  create   a   collaborative   network   that   helps   people   do  meaningful  work.”   A   core   part   of  their   strategy   is   to   open   source   their  model.   In   short,   not   only   are   they   doing   almost  exactly  what  United  Diversity  wants   to  do,  they’re   also  building   the  open   source   tools  actually  needed  to  do  it!  

The  Enspiral  Foundation  is  the  charitable  company  at  the  heart  of  the  Enspiral  network.  It’s   the   legal   custodian   of   assets   held   collectively   by   the   network,   and   the   entity  with  which  companies  and  individuals  have  a  formal  relationship.  Decisions  are  made  using  Loomio  and  budgets  are  set  using  Cobudget.  

A  network  of  professionals  work  together  in  teams  to  offer  Enspiral  Services,  a  range  of  business  services  under  one  roof.  By  default,  members  pool  20  percent  of  their  invoices  into   a   collective   bucket,   25   percent  of   which   goes   to   the   Foundation.   Loomio   and  Cobudget  are  then  used  to  decide  how  to  spend  the  rest.  For  Startup  Ventures,  Enspiral  

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works  with  social  entrepreneurs   to   launch  startups  who  then  support   the  work  of   the  Foundation  and   Enspiral,   as   a   whole,   through   flexible   revenue   share   agreements:  ventures  choose  their  own  contribution  rate,  usually  around  5  percent  of  revenue.  

Check  our  wiki  descriptions  of  Enspiral,  Las  Indias,  Sensorica,  Ethos,  and  Fora  do  Eixo.  

Ouishare  and  other  partners  organized  a   seminar   to  examine   these  new  practices   this  December,  here  is  their  video  presentation  reflecting  the  emergences  of  these  practices.  

• For  P2P  Foundation  documentation  on  the  new  open  corporate  formats,  see  Open  Company   Formats   and   specifically   on   the   post-­‐corporate   ethical   entrepreneurial  coalitions,  see  here.  

 

Tarragona  Concurs  Castells  taken  by  calafellvalo,  on  Flickr.  

3.   The   Collaborative   Technology   Alliance,   digital   synergy,   and   the   blockchain:  making  the  alternative  P2P  infrastructure  interoperable  

While  it  is  too  early  to  predict  how  successful  this  effort  will  be,  I  consider  the  meeting  and   the   launch   of   this   alliance,   which   brings   together   post-­‐corporate   alliances   like  Enspiral   and   a   dozen   others,   to   be   a   pivot.   The   aim   is   not   to   compete   with   hacker  alternatives   to   Facebook,   but   simply   to  make   already   used   technology  —  like   Loomio  and  Cobudget  for  Enspiral  —  interoperable  with  each  other.  This  is  definitely  the  most  realistic   strategy   to   arrive   at   a   interconnection   of   ethical   and   non-­‐netarchical  technologies.  

A   similar   initiative   is   growing   in   France   and   the   francophone  world,   under   the   name  Synergie  Numerique.  

• Doing  more  together,  together:  seeding  a  Collaborative  Technology  Alliance  • For  P2P  Foundation  documentation  on  technological  peer   to  peer   infrastructures,  

see  here  our  P2P  Infrastructure  Section  

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The  City  as  a  Commons  Conference,  Bologna,  Italy  

4.  From  Urban  Commons  to  The  City  as  a  Commons:  political  commons  transitions  at  the  city  level  

This   year   the   IASC,   the   venerable   scholarly   association   which   continues   the   work   of  Elinor   Ostrom,   held   a   memorable   conference   that   sealed   the   evolution   from   paying  attention   to   commons   in   the   city  to   actually   seeing   the  whole   city   as   a   commons.  The  work  of  Christian  Iaione  and  his  team  at  LabGov,  co-­‐responsible  already  for  the  Bologna  Regulation  for  the  Care  and  Regeneration  of  the  Urban  Commons,  is  exemplary  for  this  trend,  which   is  expanding   in  a  number  of  other   Italian  cities  (co-­‐mantova,  co-­‐palermo,  co-­‐battaglia…).   This   evolution   parallels   the   historic   wins   of   the   commons-­‐oriented  municipal   coalitions   in   a   number   of   Spanish   cities,   such   as   the   En   Comu   coalition   in  Barcelona.   In   Saillans,   France,   and   in   Frome,   UK   —  with   their   Flatpack   Democracy  Toolkit  —  civic  coalitions  displaced  the  political  parties,  and  the  big  win  of  a  progressive  coalition  in  Grenoble,  was  also  a  vindication  of  citizen-­‐centric  attitudes  by  the  political  parties  in  this  coalition.  

• Commons  Transition:  Stories  on  Urban  Commons.  Urban  Commons  entry  in  the  Law  for   the   Commons   Wiki.   See   also   Urbanism   and   Municipalism   in   the   Commons  Transition  Wiki.  

• For   P2P   Foundation   documentation   on   commons-­‐centric   urbanism,   see   our  Urbanism  Section  

 

Poster  from  Le  Temps  des  Communs  Festival  

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5.  The  launch  of  independent,  commons-­‐centric  civic  organisations  

I  called  for  this  about  three  years  ago,  but  they  are  finally  emerging.  

A   proto-­‐Assembly   of   the   Commons   has   been   operating   in   Ghent,   Belgium,  and   on   the  occasion   of   a   big   francophone   city   festival   on   the   commons   (Villes   en   Commun),  Toulouse  and  a  few  other  French  cities  launched  Assemblies  of  the  Commons.  A  Europe-­‐wide   Assembly   meeting   is   planned   at   the   EU-­‐level.   In   Chicago,   a   Chamber   of   the  Commons   was   launched  and,   just   this   month,   a   Commons   Transition   Coalition   for  Melbourne  and  other  places  in  Australia.  This  means  that  commoners  will   increasingly  learn  to  have  a  political  and  social  voice.  

• For   P2P   Foundation   documentation   on   P2P   and   commons   movements,   see   our  section  on  P2P  Movements  

POC21  Trailer:  “The  World  We  Need”  from  POC21  cc  on  Vimeo.  

6.   The   Poc   21,   OSCE   Days   and   the   blockchain-­‐based   open   supply  chains   as  important  steps  toward  an  Open  Source  Circular  Economy  

Poc21.cc  was  a  great  project  by  Ouishare  and  Open  State  that  brought  together  a  dozen  sustainable  open  hardware  projects   in  an  attempt  to   interconnect  them  as  a  miniature  circular   economy,   a   proof   of   concept   to   be   given   to   the   COP21   organizers  who   failed  once  more  to  offer  a  real  solution  to  climate  change  (though  the  imperfect  agreement  is,  at   least,   a   first   positive   step   in   the   light   of   previous   failures   to   even   come   to   an  agreement).  Watch  the  video  of  the  experience  here.  

The  OSCE  Days  organized  by  Lars  Zimmerman,  et  al,  were  also  a  great  set  of  experiences  that  spread  the  message  about  the  crucial  necessity  for  open  sourcing  productive  supply  chains.   The   Provenance   group   has   written   an   essential   report   outlining   how   the  blockchain  may  play  a  vital  role  in  this.  

How  the  blockchain  could  function  in  this  mutual  coordination  economy  —  particularly  in  the  context  of  open  source  participatory  and  open  value  chains  that  operate  as  eco-­‐systems  —  is  the  object  of  a  White  Paper  by  the  Provenance  group  [3].  

Also  check  the  work  of  Bob  Haugen,  Lynn  Foster,  and  others  at  Sensorica  on  Radically  Distributed   Supply   Chain   Systems   and   Network   Resource   Planning,   in   particular,   the  software  projects  around  the  open  value  flow  project  such  as  Mikorizal,  and  converging  projects  like  Wezer  by  the  Valeureux  group  in  France.  

At   the   P2P   Foundation,   we   theorized   for   the   first   time,   the   overall   thermodynamic  efficiencies   that   will   come   out   of   the   open   source   stack  and,   with   the   help   of  the  Blaqswans   Collective,   will   be   calculating   the   effects  more   seriously   in   the   coming  year.  

Read  our  P2P  Lab  articles  on  the  topic  here:  

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1. Article   [2015]   “Design   global,   manufacture   local:   Exploring   the   contours   of   an  emerging  productive  model”.  text  

2. Article   [2015]   “Towards   a   political   ecology   of   the   digital   economy:   Socio-­‐environmental  implications  of  two  competing  value  models”.  text  

• For  P2P  Foundation  documentation  on  sustainable  manufacturing,  see  our  section  on  Sustainable_Manufacturing.  See  also  the  Open  Source  Circular  Economy.  

• Commons  Transition  Stories  on  the  blockchain.  

 

Robert  Benjamin  presents  at  the  Platform  Cooperativism  Conference,  NYC.  Image  by  Trebor  Scholz.  

7.   Platform   Cooperativism,   Commonfare,   and   the   new   mutuals   for   precarious  labor  

Last   year,   we  made   a   call   for   the   convergence   of   the   cooperative/solidarity   economy  models  with  the  open  commons  model,   i.e.   for  Open  Cooperativism,  and  the  Commons  Strategies  Group  published  a  very  good  report  on  it,  Toward  an  Open  Cooperativism.  This  year,   the   realisation   that   the   sharing   economy   is   becoming   dominated   by   huge  monopolistic  and  extractive  groups  like  Uber  and  Airbnb  (the  theme  of  the  OuishareFest  2015   was   “Lost   in   Transition”  and   referred   to   this)   has   created   a   first   important  reaction,  i.e.  a  push  for  Platform  Cooperativism,  with  thousands  of  attendees  invited  to  New  York  City  by  Trebor  Scholz  and  Nathan  Schneider.  

In  platform  co-­‐ops,  whose  functions  is  to  ease  exchanges  amongst  peers,  the  commons’  part  is  the  platform  itself,  which  is  owned  by  the  different  stakeholders,  or  at  least  those  that  most  directly  produce  the  value  together.  Amongst  the  examples  cited  in  New  York  City   were   Stocksy,   an   artist-­‐owned   stock-­‐photography   website,   and   Resonate,   a  cooperative   music   streaming   platform.   Last   year,   we   also   mentioned  Commonfare  developments,   which   denotes   the   new   solidarity   mechanisms   being  instituted   by   precarious   but   networked   workers,   with   examples   such   as   the   Dutch  Broodfonds,   the  German  Solidago,  and  the  health-­‐sharing  ministries   in  the  U.S.   like  the  Freelancers  Union,  but  also  more  commercial  variants  like  Friendsurance.  

This   year,   what   has   come   to   the   fore,   especially   in   the   Francophone   world,   are   the  mutuals   for   independent   workers,   such   as   Coopaname,   which   allow   independent  workers  to  ally  themselves  and  be  part  of  the  more  official  social  solidarity  mechanisms  instead  of  being  second  class   citizens  as   ‘independents’.  The  Belgian   think-­‐tank  Saw-­‐B  

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has   an   excellent   report   on   their   emergence   and   growth   (see   Organisations   solidaires  pour   les   travailleurs   de   l’economie   collaborative)   and   pinpoints   the   strategies   to  make  them  evolve  into  real  labor  mutuals  (“mutuelles  de  travail”).  

Important  this  year  has  been  the  news  on  the  announced  basic   income  experiments  in  both  the  Netherlands  and  Finland,  but  the  utmost  caution  is  advisable  here  as  there  are  most  likely  projects  that  aim  to  do  away  with  the  basic  social  protections  of  the  welfare  state,  and  not  improve  on  it.  The  announced  800  Euro  amount  in  Finland  probably  can’t  even  cover  rental  costs.  

• Commons   Transition:   Open   Cooperativism   Definition,   Stories   on   Open  Cooperativism.  See  also  David  Bollier’s  and  Pat  Conaty’s  Open  Coops  report  

• For  P2P  Foundation  documentation  on  Open  and  Platform  cooperativism,   see  our  Cooperatives  Section  and  dedicated  sections  on  Open  and  Platform  Cooperativism.  

Video  for  the  Mutual  Aid  Network’s  Crowfund  Campaign.  Contribute  here!  

8.  The  Emergence  of  Meta-­‐Economic  Networks  for  ethical  value  streams  

As  we   argue   in   our   20-­‐minute   introductory   video   to   the   P2P   Foundation   strategy   for  change,   millions   of   people   are   already   involved   in   solving   the   three   systemic   crises  caused   by   the   present   dominant   system,   i.e.   they   are   working   on   sustainability,  solidarity,   and   openness.   The   problem   being   however,   that   the   three   streams   are   not  connected   to  each  other,  but  even  within   them,   fragmentation  reigns.  As   I  was   told  by  Jason   Nardi,   the   community-­‐supported   agriculture   movement   in   Italy   alone  probably  has  a  dozen  different  ordering  systems.  Thus,   it  becomes  more  and  more  important  to  not   just  align   the   initiatives  as  organisations,  but   to  create   integrate  value  streams   for  the  ethical  economy.  

The  most   advanced   practical   project   is   probably   the  Mutual   Aid  Network   in  Madison,  Wisconsin,  which   is   already   expanding  beyond   the   city  to  places   as   far   away  as   South  Africa  (Bergnek  project).  Very  advanced  conceptually,  having  developed  ten  criteria   to  assess   commons-­‐centric   economic   players,   is   the   Encommuns.org  project   in   Lille,  northern   France.   And   certainly   worth   mentioning   is   the   integral   accounting   method  developed   for   a  Common  Good   Economy   by   Christian   Felber   in   Austria   used   by   300+  companies.   The   solidarity   economy   movement   itself   is   now   working   on   developing  “solidarity  districts.”  

• For  P2P  Foundation  documentation  on  open  value  accounting  and  streams,  see  our  section  on  P2P  Accounting  

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Wikihouse  NZ  at  the  Makertorium  at  Te  Papa.  Read  more  here.  

9.  The  Cosmo-­‐Localization  of  WikiHouse,  and  other  seed  forms  for  a  new  wave  of  open  platforms  for  sustainable  living  and  housing  

There   was   a   time   where   we   could   think   of   projects   like   the   Tabby,   RiverSimple,   or  Wikispeed,  i.e.  the  open  source  car  projects,  as  people  wanting  to  simply  produce  their  own   cars.   And   the   same   could   be   said   of  WikiHouse.   But   visiting   the   latter   in  Christchurch,  New  Zealand,   I  had  a  epiphany  of  sorts.  That   is   far   from  what   they  are…  they  are,   in   fact,  potentially  and  emergently,  open  platforms   for  sustainable   living  and  housing,  integrating  the  world’s  knowledge  so  that  every  ethical  entrepreneur  can  start  building   sustainable   housing.   In   this,   they   are   the   budding   business   eco-­‐systems   of  tomorrow,   getting   ready   as   seed   forms   to   replace   the   extractive   industrial   system.  Watch  out  for  the  new  system  of  production,  where  “what  is  light  is  global  and  what  is  heavy  is  local,”  called  Cosmo-­‐Localization  by  our  Melbourne-­‐based  friend  José  Ramos.  

The  Dutch  magazine  Vrij  Nederland  has  a  regular  column  visiting  such  innovating  seed  platforms.  

• For   P2P   Foundation   documentation   on   sustainable   housing,   see   our   section   on  Housing  

 

The  Law  for  the  Commons  Wiki.  

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10.  The  continuation  of  a  legal  tradition  for  the  Commons  

For  several  years,  we  have  been  collating  the  evolution  of  a  new  law  of  the  commons  on  our  P2P  Foundation  website,  but  David  Bollier  has  published  a  synthetic  overview  this  year   that   does   a   lot   to   advance   our   understanding   of   this   trend.   See   David’s  work   as  compiled  in  the  Law  for  the  Commons  Wiki.  

The   new   book   by   Fritjof   Capra   and   Ugo   Mattei,   The   Ecology   of   Law:   Toward   a   Legal  System  in  Tune  with  Nature  and  Community  [4],  is  another  illustration  of  this  trend,  and  the  progressive  Catholic   journalist  Nathan  Schneider  has  argued   that   the  Pope’s   latest  encyclical,  Laudate  Si,  is  part  of  that  same  evolution.  

• Law  for  the  Commons  Wiki  • More  Law  for  the  Commons  material  at  the  Commons  Strategies  Group  Website  • For  P2P  Foundation  documentation  on   the  emergence  of  P2P  and  Commons  Law,  

see  our  section  on  P2P  Law  and  David  Bollier’s  four  part  memorandum  on  Law  for  the  Commons.  

 

• Article  cross-­‐posted  from  Shareable.com  • Image  by  opensource.com  

2015,  Commons,  Law  for  the  Commons,  Michel  Bauwens,  P2P,  Platform  Cooperativism,  Technology