The Political Economy of Peer Production

[Rajiv]

In The Political Economy of Peer Production Bauwens regards p2p phenomena as an emerging alternative to capitalist society, although he argues that "Peer production is highly dependent on the market for peer production produces use-value through mostly immaterial production, without directly providing an income for its producers." However, Bauwens goes on to argue that the interdependence is mutual: the capitalist system and market economies are also dependent on p2p production, particularly on distributed networks of information processing and production. Consequently, p2p economy may be seen as extending or already existing outside the sphere of free/open source software production and other non-rival immaterial goods.

This idea is explored also in the essay "Peer to Peer and Human Evolution" that expands the P2P meme beyond computer technology. It argues that egalitarian networking is a new form of relationship that is emerging throughout society, and profoundly transforming the way in which society and human civilization is organised. The essay argues that this new form of non-representational democracy is a crucial ingredient in finding the solutions to current global challenges; as well as a new and progressive ethos representing the highest aspirations of the new generations.

You Tube video in 7 parts - of particular interest to the itulip coomunity are parts 6 and 7 -- however the context is set up in the earlier parts.

Part 1/7 of a talk given by Michel Bauwens at Swinburne University in Melbourne Australia on August 7, 2007 (10 min)

Part 2/7 (5min)

Part 3/7 (7 min)

Part 4/7 (7 min)

Part 5/7 (5 min)

Part 6/7 (9 min)

Part 7/7 (8 min)