Introducing the Commons

Abstract

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.