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Page added on December 7, 2015
Mapping the Emerging Post-Capitalist Paradigm
“We do not live in an era of change, but in a change of eras” is the way Jan Rotmans from the University Rotterdam describes the structural changes impacting our societies. This is also the phrase Michel Bauwens chose to open his latest book yet to be published in English which title is likely to be close to “Towards a post-capitalist society with the Peer-to-Peer”.
For thinkers like Jan Rotmans and Michel Bauwens this change of eras is akin to the Industrial Revolution in the second half of the 19th century, and characterized by transitions in various fields. In a nutshell, our societies face 3 major tipping points:
- A change in social order from a central, hierarchically-controlled society to a horizontal, decentralized, and bottom-up working unit.
- A changing economic structure: where in the past large, bureaucratic organizations were necessary to produce cheap products, in the new digital economy it is possible to develop products and services locally on a small scale.
- A change in power relations: where once political influence and economies of scale determined access to resources, access to knowledge and information is now also accessible outside of political and social institutions.
Following this analysis, it is to gain further insights that we at blaqswans.org wanted to paint a big picture of the emerging post-capitalist paradigm, underpinned by peer-to-peer and collaborative dimensions. We started mapping various domains to go beyond the anecdotal evidence that such or such initiative is venturing into car-sharing or house swapping.
(click on the images for higher resolution)
We confirmed a few things as we drew this map:
- There is much more to this transition that the greenwashing offered by Uber and Airbnb, which are actually not peer-to-peer. This is precisely why we deliberately reused the shape of a honeycomb popularised by the “Collaborative Economy Honeycomb” infographic. It lists startup companies claiming to be part of that ‘sharing economy’, when many really are unbridled capitalism trying to further optimise the existing ‘selling economy’ – nothing wrong with selling but let’s not call it ‘sharing’ with the ethical claims usually attached to it.
- The intellectual work of theorising this new economy has now reached a critical mass that is too often overlooked by ‘mainstream’ economists, observers, and policy makers who treat it as fringe.
- Put together, the practical initiatives run at the grassroots level offer a credible sustainable alternative contradicting the eventual perception that the post-capitalist paradigm is a utopia dreamt up by isolated hippies. On the contrary, it is now possible to shop food regularly outside of mass retailers’ distribution networks, it is possible for a major French city like Grenoble, or Barcelona in Spain to be run by grassroots movements, and it is possible for farmers to produce in a biodynamic and commercially viable way to escape the vicious cycle of pesticides and high yields.
This map is very much work in progress and will be improved as we progress. We wanted to stop contemplating the problems of the current paradigm, and instead show how each of those issues has robust thinkers and influencers offering credible alternatives (we have chosen just a few to illustrate but there are obviously many more), and how those alternatives have started to be implemented to form a coherent system that will bring a post-capitalist society to life.
For this to be successful it will require a movement of movements, an alliance of separate movements, including a coalition of the global social and environmental justice movements, environmentalists, activists for the cancellation of debt, and so on. There is of course no guarantee of success. Every change requires a successful transition: that will be the challenge. But counting and mapping our troops is a first and necessary step to make this cause prevail.
10 Comments on "Mapping the Emerging Post-Capitalist Paradigm"
onlooker on Mon, 7th Dec 2015 5:41 pm
This article is hogwash. It proposes cosmetic superficial changes based on you guessed it technology and predicated on the fact that the elites and oligarchs will willingly give up power. In fact said elites are trying their best to envelop the planet as much under their umbrella of authority. Witness how protests have been muffled in Paris Climate Convention. Just another feel good article that illuminates nothing but rather seeks to continue the denial and false illusions.
Davy on Mon, 7th Dec 2015 7:24 pm
Any modern movement that does not acknowledge the dangers of collapse ahead is deceiving themselves. This must be central to their meaning and purpose. Fancy idea honeycombs and doctrine just confuse the issues further.
What is needed is a movement of collapsing in place. Doing less with the understanding of less ahead. Practicing relative sacrifice as preparation for less and hopefully as a gesture to others. Downsize with dignity while you can. It will not be long before your dignity may be compromised.
makati1 on Mon, 7th Dec 2015 8:09 pm
Wow! IS it “Transitions” Month?
I thought it might be a serious, academic discussion until I started to read: “…in the new digital economy it is possible…” There I stopped. More unicorn huggers dreaming.
joe on Tue, 8th Dec 2015 3:10 am
Utopianism has long been a cause of as much pain as realpolitik. They are yin and yang. Utopianism gave us facism and communism, realpolitik gave us Israel and the creation of today’s cause celeb in the Muslim world, though now we caused so many problems that along with managing GW we also might have to manage the creation of some new muslim countries in the west to prevent a third world war.
Cloud9 on Tue, 8th Dec 2015 9:42 am
I concur that there will be a decentralization. I fear it will be chaotic and brutal as we transition to lower energy systems that are incapable of sustaining current population levels.
ennui2 on Tue, 8th Dec 2015 6:15 pm
“elites are trying their best to envelop the planet as much under their umbrella of authority.”
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/48/fd/06/48fd06606d2275b505d5f1101d718121.jpg
ennui2 on Tue, 8th Dec 2015 6:16 pm
“I fear it will be chaotic and brutal as we transition to lower energy systems that are incapable of sustaining current population levels.”
People have just as much if not more to fear from a breakdown of law and order as they do from the so-called “elites”.
makati1 on Wed, 9th Dec 2015 4:20 am
ennui2, just who do you think is engineering that ‘breakdown’? Why,the elites, of course. Divide and Conquer is an age old tactic in warfare. And if you doubt they are at war with you, look at who is benefiting from all of the social breakdown and shrinking salaries, benefits, freedoms and security. The elite, of course.
“The Deep State and the War on Cash”
The elite want total control of your money and the ability to cut it off at anytime.
“U.S. Health Spending Up Most Since ’07, Fueled by Obamacare”
Keep the peasants broke and in debt so they have no alternatives. A doctor here in the Ps costs $12/visit TOTAL and is a specialist equal to any in the US. Dental root canal and crown is about $130 TOTAL.
“Richest 20 Americans Own More Wealth Than The Entire Bottom Half Of The Country: Report”
Speaks for itself.
“Have We Hit Peak Inequality?”
Not yet. Be patient. You still have something the elite want. Your soul, or at least your servitude.
http://ricefarmer.blogspot.fr/
Davy on Wed, 9th Dec 2015 6:32 am
It appears we have further escalation of posture with the Russian sub missile strike on ISIS. This may be a veiled warning that Russia can deliver tactical NUK’s in Syria if need be to protect her interest. The missile strike was expensive and tactically not needed. Planes could have done it cheaper and just as effective. This appears to be a strategic move to prove capability. ZH points to this as a message for ISIS. I personally think it is a message for Nato especially Turkey.
“Putin Hopes “There Will Be No Need To Nuke” The Islamic State”
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-12-08/putin-hopes-there-will-be-no-need-nuke-islamic-state
“most notable in today’s update by the Russian defense ministry was neither the news about the sub, or the second ship deployment, but what Putin told Shoigu during their conversation according to the Kremlin’s transcript. Which is as follows:
Regarding the submarine strikes we must, of course, analyze everything that happens on the battlefield, how the weapons acts. Both the “Kalibrs” and the X-101 rockets as a whole proved to be very good. This new, modern, highly efficient, and highly precise weapon can be equipped with both a conventional warhead as well as a special, nuclear warhead. Naturally, in the fight against terrorism that is unnecessary, and I hope there will be no need [to use nukes against the Islamic State].
But, if it is…. which of course was the unsaid message: Russia not only can deploy tactical nuclear warheads to Syria overnight, but it may, “not now”, but eventually be forced to use them against “the Islamic State.”
makati1 on Wed, 9th Dec 2015 7:57 pm
“…or the FSA.”