Omnia Sunt Communia: On the Commons and the Transformation to Postcapitalism (In Common)

In this weaving of radical political economy, __Omnia Sunt Communia__ sets out the steps to postcapitalism. By conceptualising the commons not just as common goods but as a set of social systems, Massimo De Angelis shows their pervasive presence in everyday life, mapping out a strategy for total social transformation. From the micro to the macro, De Angelis unveils the commons as fields of power relations – shared space, objects, subjects – that explode the limits of daily life under capitalism. He exposes attempts to co-opt the commons, through the use of code words such as 'participation' and 'governance', and reveals the potential for radical transformation rooted in the reproduction of our communities, of life, of work and of society as a whole. “De Angelis has applied his considerable academic understanding to his practical experience of communing to advance a critical conversation on social change.” ―__Green Left Weekly__ “An extraordinary new book.” ―__CounterPunch__ “As the crises of neoliberal capitalism deepen, Massimo De Angelis offers us a sweeping framework for understanding how commons can provide practical pathways for political and social emancipation. Timely, insightful and hopeful.” ―David Bollier, author of __Think Like a Commoner__ “De Angelis does for the commons in this book what Marx did for capitalism in __Capital__. __Omnia Sunt Communia__ will be indispensable to scholars and activists grappling with the most important question of our time: what system, if any, should follow the end of capitalism?” ―George Caffentzis, author of __In Letters of Blood and Fire: Work, Machines, and the Crisis of Capitalism__ “Carefully argued and with a wealth of profound examples, this book is at once expansively curious and politically urgent. De Angelis does justice to the complex heat and light of the commons: our hidden past, our living present and our potential future.” ―Max Haiven, author of __Crises of Imagination, Crises of Power__ “An ambitious and path-breaking work. While he introduces us to the main theorists of the commons, De Angelis also explores new ground. It makes for a powerful and challenging book that all educators and activists in movements for social justice should read.” ―Silvia Federici, author of __Revolution at Point Zero: Housework, Reproduction, and Feminist Struggle__ **Massimo De Angelis** is professor of political economy at the University of East London, and founder and editor of the web journal __The Commoner__ (www.thecommoner.org). His previous books include __The Beginning of History__ (2007). Front Cover 1 Title Page 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 Tables, Figures and Boxes 8 Acknowledgements 10 Introduction: Omnia Sunt Communia 20 Our Time 20 Plan C 29 I Am a Commoner 34 What Will Follow 36 Part One: Commons as Systems 46 1: Common Goods 48 The Twofold Character of Common Goods 48 On Common Goods 53 The Economist 54 Messing Up the Neat Picture 62 Taxonomies 68 Selection and Strategic Horizons 74 Material Basis 83 2: Systems 94 Restarting from the Ordinary: Social Systems and Daily Life 94 Subjects and Systems 97 Basic Properties of All Systems 104 Commons Systems 109 The Typology of Commons 120 Commons and Capital 122 Commons = S/E = Power = Enacted Social Force 126 Power-Force/Values-Goals 129 3: Elements 138 Pillars 138 Commoning Briefly Explained 140 Community Briefly Explained 142 Commonwealth 145 Part Two: From Elinor Ostrom to Karl Marx 160 4: Commons Governance 162 Commons and Open Access 163 Common-Pool Resources and Resource Units 168 Common-Pool Resources and Property Regimes 174 Design Principles, Rules and Commons Regimes 175 Exogenous or Endogenous Forces? 182 5: the Money Nexus and the Commons Formula 192 Two Circuits 192 Actors’ Positions: Capitalists and Commoners 200 The Money Circuit of Capital 204 The Coupling of Circuits 207 The Commons Circuit 211 Further Reflections 213 Part Three: Commoning: the Source of Grassroots Power 218 6: Mobilising Social Labour for Commoning 220 Commoning as a Mode of Exercising Powers 220 Setting Commoning in Motion: Lessons from the Andes 228 Communal Labour 231 Reciprocal Labour 234 Mobilising Social Labour for the Commons in Modern Societies 237 7: The Production of Autonomy, Boundaries and Sense 242 Commoning as Creation of Autonomy and Self-Reliance 242 Further Observations on Autonomy 251 Commoning as Generative Force of Autopoiesis 255 Going Back to the Commons Circuit and the Capital Circuit 258 Boundaries 262 Boundaries, Commoning and Abstract Labour 266 Boundaries and Property Rights 271 Production of Boundaries through Meaning and Sense: Measure 277 Part Four: Social Change 282 8: Boundary Commoning 284 Political Recomposition and Social Revolution 284 The Development of Capitalist Commons 295 The Stuff of Explosion: Multiplication, Interweaving and Tipping Point 300 Recomposition, Scale, and Network: The Magic of Boundary Commoning 310 The Case of Genuino Clandestino 313 9: Commons and Capital/State 322 Commons Movement: The Cochabamba Water Wars of 2000 323 Commons and Capital as Social Systems 332 Commons Co-Optation 334 Structural Coupling between Capital and Commons 349 Using the Other’s Complexity: A New Commons Deal? 351 Capital/State and Commons Mutual Conditioning 355 ‘Commonisation’ 359 The Complexity of Social Transformation 366 10: Towards Postcapitalism 376 Emancipation 376 Commons, Social Movements and Social Fabric 384 Complexity Disentangled 391 Commons Movements 404 Notes 408 References 418 Index 438 About the Author 457 Back Cover 458 This book reveals the potential for radical transformation contained in a conceptualisation of the commons as a set of social systems, rather than just common goods. In this weaving of radical political economy, Omnia Sunt Communia sets out the steps to postcapitalism. By conceptualising the commons not just as common goods but as a set of social systems, Massimo De Angelis shows their pervasive presence in everyday life, mapping out a strategy for total social transformation. From the micro to the macro, De Angelis unveils the commons as fields of power relations - shared space, objects, subjects - that explode the limits of daily life under capitalism. He exposes attempts to co-opt the commons, through the use of code words such as 'participation' and 'governance', and reveals the potential for radical transformation rooted in the reproduction of our communities, of life, of work and of society as a whole In Omnia Sunt Communia, Massimo De Angelis Offers A Radical Political Economy, Illuminating The Steps Necessary To Arrive At A Post-capitalist World. By Conceptualizing The Idea Of Commons Not Just As Common Goods But As A Set Of Social Systems, De Angelis Shows Their Pervasive Presence In Everyday Life, And He Maps Out A Strategy For Total Social Transformation. From The Micro To The Macro, De Angelis Unveils The Commons As Fields Of Power Relations—shared Space, Objects, And Subjects—that Explode The Limits Of Daily Life Under Capitalism. He Exposes Attempts To Co-opt The Commons, Through The Use Of Seemingly Innocuous Words Such As “participation” And “governance,” And He Reveals The Potential For Radical Transformation Rooted In The Social Reproduction Of Our Communities, Life, Work, And Society As A Whole.-- Massimo De Angelis. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 389-418) And Index. In Omnia Sunt Communia, Massimo de Angelis offers a radical political economy, illuminating the steps necessary to arrive at a post-capitalist world. By conceptualizing the idea of commons not just as common goods but as a set of social systems, de Angelis shows their pervasive presence in everyday life, and he maps out a strategy for total social transformation. From the micro to the macro, de Angelis unveils the commons as fields of power relations--shared space, objects, and subjects--that explode the limits of daily life under capitalism. He exposes attempts to co-opt the commons, through the use of seemingly innocuous words such as "participation" and "governance," and he reveals the potential for radical transformation rooted in the social reproduction of our communities, life, work, and society as a whole.-- Provided by Publisher