[p2p-research] The 10 Most Important P2P Trends of the Year, request for input

[Michel Bauwens]

I'm publishing this on the 27th,

and input to add to the comments fields would be most appreciated!!

 Below, I’m focusing on trends in business and politics. WHAT DID I FORGET?
Thanks for adding further suggestions to our comment field. What has been
important in 2009, that is not reflected here?

*IN BUSINESS*

*1.* The consolidation of open and distributed
manufacturing<http://p2pfoundation.net/Category:Manufacturing>as a
real alternative, though presently operating at the margins of the
economy

The new model of manufacturing, based on collaborative platforms, shared
designs, and distributed (relocalized) manufacturing, has definitely emerged
as a practical alternative, even though it is now operating at the margins
of the current system, though it’s illegal variants, such as the Shanzai
system, are very important to the Chinese economy.

Examples: Arduino, 100Kgarages, Open Source Ecology, eCars, the Maker
movement

*2.* The emergence of Social Business
Design<http://delicious.com/mbauwens/Social-Business-Design>for
corporate adaptation

Hierarchies must adapt to networks, as civil society networks are now
becoming more productive. The emergent discipline of social business design,
organizing businesses in network modes, is the strategic path for obtaining
such deep structural and behavioural changes.

Key individuals: Lee Bryant, Peter Kim; Key examples: Gartner’s
Pattern-Based Strategy, the Headshift consultancy, the Dachis Group

*3.* New spaces <http://delicious.com/mbauwens/P2P-Places> for work and
cooperation

Co-working, hackerspaces, hubs … major cities now feature spaces where
people can work together in purpose-driven spaces, without having to belong
to the same business organization.

*4.* Purpose-driven organizational formats and ownership models
<http://p2pfoundation.net/Category:Business>

The Friedmanite shareholder corporation is toxic to the world and a threat
to our very survival. Tons of work and initiatives are emerging to develop
organizational and business forms that are at the same time sustainable,
more democratic, and make the world a better place. This is related to a
broader thrust towards ‘good capitalism’, i.e. social entrepreneurship, fair
trade

Key individuals: Umair Haque, Marjory Kelly’s Corporation 20/20, Chris
Cook’s Open Capital

*5.* Consolidation of the Social ‘local grassroots’ and Sharing Economy
(which includes new currencies and a revival of urban cooperative farming in
western countries)

Whether it is called the social economy, the solidarity economy, slow money,
there is a consolidation of a grassroots economy taking place, involving a
revival of cooperatives, and many other formats. Reform of the dysfunctional
monetary system is now a general part of alternative discourse and many
local initiatives are being tried out

Milestones: the publication of Thomas Greco’s book on mutual credit; the
launch of Shareable magazine; the Bay Area JASecon network; Velib in Paris,
and the growth of ridesharing companies

*IN POLITICS*

*6.* The emergence of the commons as a policy
platform<http://p2pfoundation.net/Category:Policy>

With signs such as Elinor Ostrom’s Nobel Prize, the creation of a commons
lobby in the UN, gatherings such as the Crottorf Commons Consultations and a
slew of commons oriented manifesto’s and book, state and business are no
longer the sole polarities for policy solutions.

Key Individuals: James Quilligan, David Bollier, Silke Helfrich

*7.* The awakening of Andean Latin America and its native peoples, and their
cooperative economic arrangements

Bolivia, Ecuador, but also Venezuela and Brazil: something important is
brewing especially in the northern and central parts of Latin America, which
partly involves a revival of social-democratic (Brazil) and socialist
policies (Venezuela, Bolivia), associated to a coming into power of native
peoples movement that refuse to give up their spiritual value systems, and
lots of grassroots activities.

*8.* The election of Pirate Party MEP’s

The election of two Swedish PP parliamentarians in the European Parliament
is a milestone for a new type of politics that was born with digital
empowerment and the attempts to suppress it.

*9.* A breakthrough year for open movements

Whether it’s the P2P Foundation or many of our brother, sister, or ‘cousin’
organizations, all of us feel that 2009 was a breakthrough year in terms of
growing attention and recognition. We’re still small, but we’re on the map.

*IN OTHER FIELDS*

*10.* Open access to science, education, government

I don’t think there is any doubt that there have been great strides forward
for open access publishing, open access to government data, and other,
multiple initiatives towards more transparency and participation. The new
social demands are exerting pressure on institutions, and getting results.


-- 
Work: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhurakij_Pundit_University - Think thank:
http://www.asianforesightinstitute.org/index.php/eng/The-AFI

P2P Foundation: http://p2pfoundation.net  - http://blog.p2pfoundation.net

Connect: http://p2pfoundation.ning.com; Discuss:
http://listcultures.org/mailman/listinfo/p2presearch_listcultures.org

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