Blockchain and the Commons

The commons based on a simple yet radical idea: great improvements in production and management could be achieved by reducing barriers to knowledge exchange and power-sharing. This book provides a critical examination of the commons with the aim of contributing to their long-term sustainability. It argues that there are economic and social barriers to the wider reproduction of the commons, such as access to capital and training, lack of entrepreneurial and managerial skills, and institutional support. Through overcoming these contradictions, the ultimate goal is to transform capitalism into the postcapitalism of the commons.

Format: Hardback
Length: 156 pages
Publication date: 24 November 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The commons, a concept based on the idea of reducing knowledge exchange and power-sharing barriers, has gained significant attention in recent years. These commons encompass a wide range of resources and infrastructures, including meadows, forests, parks, language, open-source software (FLOSS), and 3D printers. They are self-managed by user communities and distributed or common property resources. While commons-based peer production has shown promising results, this book critically examines the commons to contribute to their long-term sustainability.

The book explores the relationship between Blockchain and the commons by examining the case study of the Commons Stack. It draws on interdisciplinary ideas and methodologies to argue that there are economic and social barriers preventing the wider reproduction of the commons. These barriers include issues such as access to capital and training, lack of entrepreneurial and managerial skills, and insufficient institutional support from governments, larger cooperatives, and NGOs.

Furthermore, the book identifies internal contradictions inherent in the commons, such as localism, gated communities, vested interests, atavism, traditionalism, ideology, conflict, neo-conservatism, and techno-elitism. Overcoming these contradictions is the ultimate goal, leading to the transformation of capitalism into the postcapitalism of the commons: a social economy self-organised around the commons.

This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the commons, including economists, techno-politicians, and scholars across the social sciences. It offers valuable insights into the potential of the commons to create a more sustainable and equitable society.

Weight: 460g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367484040