[Commlist] New book: The Commons: Economic Alternatives in a Digital Age (new open access book title)

*THE COMMONS*

*Economic Alternatives in a Digital Age*
Vangelis Papadimitropoulos

This book explores the potential creation of a broader collaborative 
economy through commons-based peer production (P2P) and the emergent 
role of information and communication technologies (ICTs). The book 
seeks to critically engage in the political discussion of commons-based 
peer production, which can be classified into three basic arguments: the 
liberal, the reformist and the anti-capitalist. This book categorises 
the liberal argument as being in favour of the coexistence of the 
commons with the market and the state. Reformists, on the other hand, 
advocate for the gradual adjustment of the state and of capitalism to 
the commons, while anti-capitalists situate the commons against 
capitalism and the state.

By discussing these three viewpoints, the book contributes to 
contemporary debates concerning the future of commons-based peer 
production. Further, the author argues that for the commons to become a 
fully operational mode of peer production, it needs to reach critical 
mass arguing that the liberal argument underestimates the reformist 
insight that technology has the potential to decentralise production, 
thereby forcing capitalism to transition to post-capitalism. Surveying 
the three main strands of commons-based peer production, this book makes 
the case for a post-capitalist commons-orientated transition that moves 
beyond neoliberalism.

*CONTENT*S

1. Introducing the Commons

Part 1: The Liberal Commons

2. The Liberal Commons

Part 2: The Reformist Commons

3. The Reformist Commons

Part 3: The Anti-capitalist Commons

4. The Anti-capitalist Commons

5. Conclusion: Reformatting the Commons

*AUTHOR*

Vangelis Papadimitropoulos is a political theorist, social scientist, 
independent researcher, and editor holding a PhD in political 
philosophy. Formerly a Research Affiliate and post-doc researcher at the 
Free University of Amsterdam and the University of Limerick, he has 
written extensively on the topic of the commons. This is his first book.

Open Access

PDF, ePub and kindle versions available free from 
uwestminsterpress.co.uk/site books:

PDF 978-1-912656-84-4 ePub 978-1 912656-85-1 Kindle978-1-912656-86-8

DOI: 10.16997/book46

Format 270 pages 229 x 152mm

Paperback978-1-912656-83-7

UK£24.99 US$24.95EUR €28 CAN $48 AUS $52

*Subjects*

Political Economy |Social Theory| Media Studies

Published open access by the University of Westminster Press

https://www.uwestminsterpress.co.uk/site/books/10.16997/book47

Published 20 October 2020

This book is published in the Critical Digital and Social Media Studies 
Series

https//www.uwestminsterpress.co.uk/site/books/series/critical-digital-and-social-media-studies


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