Parodia de los comunes

establecer la libertad de forma duradera depende sobre todo de enseñar a

la gente a valorar la libertad."

We attempt to move from

a strict techno-economic analysis towards a discussion of the Commons

within a turbulent, contradictory socio-economic framework. In other

words, what is the role of the Commons in the capitalist accumulation

while the emancipatory potential of peer communities is neutralised

without affecting their productive function? The capitalist system

arguably seeks to incorporate Commons-based, peer communities because

of their cost-effective advantage (low-cost labour with high quality

products). We argue that the development of P2P relations in itself,

if placed in the current socio-economic conditions, can take place

only temporarily because in the long run it will be undermined by

means designed to maintain profit-driven relations of production into

power. We call this transformation process “parody of the Commons” in

relation to what Benkler (2006) defines as “tragedy of the Commons”.

We attempt to move from a strict techno-economic analysis towards

a discussion of the Commons within a turbulent, contradictory

socio-economic framework. In other words, what is the role of the

Commons in the capitalist accumulation while the emancipatory potential

of peer communities is neutralised without affecting their productive

function? The capitalist system arguably seeks to incorporate

Commons-based, peer communities because of their cost-effective

advantage (low-cost labour with high quality products). We argue that

the development of P2P relations in itself, if placed in the current

socio-economic conditions, can take place only temporarily because

in the long run it will be undermined by means designed to maintain

profit-driven relations of production into power. We call this

transformation process “parody of the Commons” in relation to what

Benkler (2006) defines as “tragedy of the Commons”.

Intentamos salir de un análisis estrictamente tecno-económico hacia una

discusión de los Comunes dentro de un marco socioeconómico turbulento y

contradictorio.  En otras palabras, ¿cuál es el rol de los Comunes en la

acumulación capitalista mientras el potencial emancipatorio de las

comunidades de pares es neutralizada sin afectar su función productiva?

El sistema capitalista intenta incorporar a las comunidades de pares por

su rentabilidad ventajosa (trabajo de bajo costo con productos de alta

calidad).  Decimos entonces que el desarrollo de las relaciones de pares

por sí solo, al situarse en las condiciones socioeconómicas actuales,

puede tomar lugar temporalmente porque en el largo plazo será socavado

por medios diseñados para mantener en el poder a las relaciones de

producción orientadas al lucro.  Llamamos a este proceso de

transformación "parodia de los Comunes" en relación a lo que Benkler

[-@benkler-2006] define como "tragedia de los Comunes".

In 1968, Garret Hardin first introduced the concept of the tragedy of

the Commons referring to the degradation of a finite resource used by a

group of individuals who act independently and rationally on the basis of