Investigations in P2P Theory: future plans

I’m reprinting this from P2P News 86, as it is still relevant, especially to those discovering P2P Theory through this new blog:

Progress and plans regarding P2P Theory

The last two months did not allow for a lot of time to rewrite ameliorate the fundamentals of the present version of P2P theory. Nevertheless, for those who are interested, this is the larger framework in which I am thinking:

The four sections below are based on Alan’s Fiske fourfold typology of intersubjective relationships. I summarise the relative place of P2P within that larger scheme under the phrase of “For a Commons-based society within a reformed market and a reformed state”. This leaves the out the aspects of reciprocity-based cooperative production covered by gift economy theory, but can be understood, in this context, to be a part of the Commons.

-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Market theory: how can we think either about a ‘market without capitalism’ or at the very least about a ‘deeply socialized capitalism’. Since I believe that the present format of neoliberal capitalism is unsustainable both in natural and psychic resources, and given that some form of market is both acceptable and necessary, how do we formulate a new market theory? A market within society has almost always existed, and is acceptable, but what is not acceptable is a ‘market society’, where everything is determined through a market.

-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Hierarchy theory or state theory: This covers both the state, issues of leadership, and in particular corporate leadership. How do we achieve forms of leadership which promote participation rather than aim at the extension of their own monopolies? I should be looking in particular to theories and practices of servant leadership. How do we get a state that is not beholden to monopolistic corporate interests, but can offer a fair arbitrage, in the public interest, between market-, gift economy, and P2P-based alternatives and that minimizes the bureaucratic logic. One of the weaknesses of the contemporary left, and strengths of the right, is that it’s drive for deregulation answers to a deep-seated desire to be freed from bureaucracy; a need that can’t be answered by simply defending public authority. How do we achieve a ‘servant state’ (as per analogy to servant leadership), which is subordinated to civil society, not to private monopolies? How to develop peer governance and multistakeholdership? How do we achieve new redistribution mechanisms such as the universal wage?

-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Gift Economy theory: how can we reinstate/reinforce material production based on reciprocity and cooperative relationships. The key here is to investigate ‘complementary currencies’ and cooperative production generally.

-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â P2P Theory: Along with complementary currencies, the key enabler that would free a maximum amount of people to directly produce use value (rather than exchange value), is the universal wage. I am therefore increasingly seeing both complementary currencies and the universal income as key enablers for a P2P economy. While complementary currencies are the outcome of autonomous social processes, the universal income is directly dependent on relative political power and hence the existence of a social movement in favour of it. In my opinion, monetary reform and complementary currencies belong to gift economy theory, while the universal income, which does not require any reciprocity, as it is unconditional and de-linked from work, is a Peer to Peer format.

My plan is the following: to finish the present version of the manuscript in October, November at the latest; to take a period of 2-3 months of ‘free reading’; to resume the writing of a second manuscript starting in March/April, which will focus on exploring complementary currencies and the universal wage, as it relates and complements P2P processes. Any body who can assist in this research is more than welcome.

The ultimate aim is to arrive at a new and coherent formulation of a theory of social and political change, adapted to our epoch, that has a chance of being realized (i.e. a ‘Real Utopia’, as defined by Erik Olin Wright), not necessarily tomorrow, but in the coming 3 to 5 decades. P2P Theory can only be a fraction of such a theory, which should encompass strategies for reforming the state and the market, as well as on the promotion of reciprocity based schemes.

Leave A Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.