The current social order, dominated by capital, has historically appropriated and exploited the Commons for the purpose of accumulation. From the enclosures of land and water resources to the contemporary netarchical methods of extracting value from digital platforms, the Commons has always been a significant component of the process of wealth accumulation. It is imperative that we unite our efforts as a collective to place the Commons at the center of social change and present this manifesto as a testament to our vision.
Under the prevailing social order, productive forces have emerged that the existing system cannot fully control. As these forces continue to mature, they will inevitably challenge and overturn the established production relations. Governments worldwide are engaged in a race to transform their nations into corporate-run free economic zones. Their competition revolves primarily around global supply chains, energy markets, industrial production, deregulated finance, technology, knowledge, and talent. Politics in this order is focused on forming strategic alliances and partnerships to secure control over these tangible and intangible infrastructures across borders.
Unlike the early 20th century, today's global competition among nations is more cohesive. While they compete in certain aspects of the trade, the outsourcing of production limits the extent to which negotiations can be stretched. Each nation must save negotiation leverage for other deals, as these multifaceted negotiations reshape the fabric of human life. Human existence has become increasingly fluid, marked by uncertainties regarding the spatio-temporal aspects of labor. Labor itself is continuously recommodified, with the pursuit of flexibility taking precedence. For peers, the cost of acquiring skills often exceeds the constant income such skills promise. Consequently, the traditional relations between capital and labor, where disciplined labor found stability in established careers, have been disrupted by new forces unleashed by the volatile nature of capital empowered by digital infrastructure.
In the face of these challenges, we, the collective of peers, recognize the urgency to redefine the role of the Commons. We understand that the Commons holds immense transformative potential as a counterbalance to the forces of capital. By harnessing the power of the Commons, we can reshape social and economic structures, reclaim agency over our lives, and build a more equitable and sustainable future.
In the 20th century, global competition was predominantly between two blocs: the capitalist bloc and its counterpart. While the capitalist bloc pursued opportunities for accumulation, the other bloc exemplified ideals such as free healthcare and education, making them integral parts of the Commons. This emphasis on commonifying essential services provided living examples that extended beyond the narrow pursuit of profit. For the 99% within the capitalist bloc, these examples fueled aspirations for progress. Despite the bureaucratization of the partner state within the other bloc, its commitment to the Commons served as an inspiration.
However, in the 21st century, people lost the tangible existence of such alternatives. Yet, technology facilitated the growth of productive forces, enabling the emergence of new social formations with impacts spanning multiple supply chains. The proliferation of these examples holds the power to shape ideas for generations to come. As such, the collective idea of the Commons and its survival become the primary task for those seeking to transform the system. An economy in solidarity with these Commons can thrive and serve as a beacon for change. This economy is known as the Solidarity Economy.
To organize and foster the success of the Solidarity Economy on a macroscopic scale, we must pay meticulous attention to organizing at a microscopic level. We should transcend the metaphysical perspective of organization that suggests vertical societal structures, disregarding the roots of production. Similarly, the mechanical viewpoint of rigidly dividing geographical areas into urban, rural, and others fails to acknowledge the interconnectedness of supply chains. Instead, we must forge collectives that address the contradictions between production relations and productive forces within each specific center.
This approach necessitates introducing new technologies, creating new markets, establishing new supply chains, or retraining existing resources in a manner that renders the old relations obsolete. Each center will require its own time to reach maturity, as the transformation is not a uniform process. Furthermore, the maturation of each center should not be seen merely as an isolated success. What truly matters is the extent to which the impact of a center's maturity resonates throughout its surrounding ambit.
Therefore, we call upon all those dedicated to reshaping human life through the Commons and the Solidarity Economy to unite and build collectives that embody this new approach. Let us embrace the dynamics of supply chain interconnection, utilize technology, and leverage market opportunities to transform production relations. By doing so, we can create a network of centers, carefully managed at a microscopic level, that collectively nurture and strengthen the Solidarity Economy.
We understand that this transformative journey will be multifaceted and require patience. It demands strategic interventions, innovative thinking, and a holistic understanding of the interconnectedness between various centers. The success of the Solidarity Economy hinges upon our ability to generate positive impacts that ripple throughout the ambit, fostering well-being, equity, and sustainable progress.
The economic mainsprings of political struggle began to reveal themselves during the rise of the mercantile class, challenging feudal societies in Europe. While feudal societies were inherently contradictory and marked by antagonistic struggles between peasants and lords, it was in Europe that these contradictions matured to the point of collapsing the feudal system. Slowly, the bonds of feudal society started to corrode. This process can be observed in England, where, by the mid-1400s, the development of Flemish wool manufacturers in Belgium created an immense demand for raw wool from England.
As a consequence, the feudal nobility, already in an unstable state due to wars and the emergence of an independent small farmer peasantry, forcibly seized the land that had once belonged to the peasantry, converting it into grazing areas for sheep. Tens of thousands of peasants were driven from their lands, leaving them propertyless. Simultaneously, the lords, burdened by debt to merchants in the towns, began to economize by dismissing their retainers. These displaced peasants became the workers for the emerging class of capital owners, giving birth to a new force in society.
The conflict between feudal lords and capital owners intensified as the costs of travel between feudal estates had to be borne by the capital owners. These transformations were driven by the development of productive forces, which propelled society into a new era.
This new class of capital owners from Europe embarked on a path of plunder, exploiting nations and their commons across the globe. For example, in India, the mercantile class, although possessing significant trading capacity, was not as advanced in naval power as their European counterparts. This advantage allowed European powers to plunder India for over 300 years. By 1915, when exclusive rights over all the wood in the country were granted to a company, even the common arable lands fell into the company's hands. Consequently, the commoners' access to wood for cooking and agriculture dwindled. Such relentless plunder left no room for the flourishing and productive potential of commons.
Today, we stand united against this history of exploitation and depletion of the commons. We recognize that the very essence of our collective power lies in reclaiming and revitalizing the commons as vital resources for the benefit of all. We acknowledge the urgent need to restore the balance between nature and society, between the needs of the present and the aspirations of future generations.
Together, we commit to preserving and nurturing the commons, to reversing the damage inflicted upon them by centuries of plunder and exploitation. We aim to build a society that values and safeguards the commons, ensuring equitable access and sustainable use for all. By strengthening the collective ownership and management of resources, we can create an inclusive economy that empowers communities, fosters cooperation, and respects the ecological limits of our planet.
We call upon all individuals, communities, and nations to join us in this noble endeavor. Let us unite in a shared vision of a world where the commons are protected, nurtured, and shared by all. By standing together against the plunder of commons, we can forge a future where the principles of equity, justice, and sustainability guide our interactions with the natural world and with one another.
As the 21st century unfolds, a new class of capital owners has emerged: the netarchical class. Their primary task is to create platforms and invite peers to engage in production. Peers participate in production for various reasons, whether it be for their own survival or to contribute to the creation of commons. However, these efforts of commonification by peers have been systematically plundered by the netarchical class, resulting in the formation of the world's largest business empires.
Today, we witness startling realities where the world's largest media company does not employ journalists, yet the media content is produced by the people or peers themselves. The world's largest hotelier does not own a single hotel room, as it is owned by countless small owners. The world's largest taxi company does not own any taxis but rather operates by aggregating the efforts of individual taxi drivers through its platform, thereby exploiting their labor. The value created by peers is relentlessly commodified, while their original intention was to commonify.
Under the reign of capital, the economic order transitions from a stage of competition to a stage of monopoly. Monopoly capital operates in an unplanned manner, much like its predecessor. The massive corporations of monopoly capital interact with each other, consumers, labor, and smaller businesses primarily through the market. The functioning of the system remains the unintended consequence of self-interested actions by the numerous units that comprise it.
However, a fundamental distinction between the competitive stage and the monopoly stage of this capital order arises: in the former, the capital owner is a price-taker, while in the latter, the capital owner becomes a price-maker. Monopolists have the power to set prices, extending their control over markets and shaping economic dynamics. They manipulate prices, provide loans to manipulate purchasing power and subject the population to suffocating levels of debt.
We reject this unjust state of affairs. We refuse to accept a system where the netarchical class exploits the efforts of peers for their own profit while suppressing the commonification of resources and knowledge. We stand united against the monopolization of wealth and power, striving for a society where the rights and dignity of all individuals are upheld.
Together, we will challenge the dominance of the netarchical class and fight for a system that values and respects the contributions of peers. We envision a future where the fruits of collective labor are shared equitably and where the commonification of resources is nurtured and protected.
Join us in reclaiming the power to shape our economic order. Let us challenge the monopolists, the price-makers, and the debt enslavement they impose. Together, we will create an economy that values collaboration, cooperation, and the shared wealth of humanity. By reclaiming the commons, we can dismantle the exploitative structures of the netarchical class and forge a path toward a more just and equitable society.
Tools, created by humans, possess the capacity to call for social change, and it is through humans that they speak. From the earliest stages of human development, tools have played a transformative role in shaping both individuals and societies. Approximately four million years ago, our pre-human primate ancestors progressed from merely carrying and utilizing found objects to actively reshaping them into purposeful tools. This evolutionary shift, driven by natural selection and other pressures, favored the development of a larger and more complex brain, further augmenting the advantages provided by the hand's newfound versatility and freedom in tool-making.
As labor became increasingly intricate and the need for communication grew beyond simple calls, human evolution favored the development of speech apparatus. The interplay between labor, tools, and brain development, spanning countless uncharted phases and twists, ultimately culminated in the emergence of modern humanity some 50,000 years ago.
Labor, intimately intertwined with the tools it entails, not only propelled human evolution but also shaped the trajectory of human society. As a conscious practice, labor compels individuals to critically reflect upon and refine their actions. This ongoing process drives the constant improvement and creation of new tools and methods, as well as a deeper understanding of the world. History bears witness to the leaps forward, from the transition from hunting to agriculture, from draft animals to steam engines, and from internal combustion machines to computers. These advances highlight the pivotal role of labor and tools in human progress.
Yet, this evolutionary process is far from smooth. The question of who owns the means of production and whether the productive forces are under their own control determines the nature of production relations and the shifts from one stage of society to another. Different configurations of production relations arise and correspond to distinct levels of development of the productive forces.
In our vision, tools are not detached from people; they are inextricably intertwined. This perspective illuminates the image of the Commons as a collective preparing for and fighting for a new society. For a system to change, it requires not only a clear point of departure for the transition but also the readiness of subjective factors. The evolution of subjective factors heavily relies on making the next stage of society a common knowledge.
We stand at a critical juncture in history, where the relationship between tools, labor, and society demands our attention. We recognize the power of tools to shape our lives and the potential they hold to forge a more equitable and just world. Let us embrace the collective wisdom of the Commons, where tools and labor are harnessed to serve the needs and aspirations of all. Through shared knowledge and collective action, we will usher in a society where the fruits of labor and the benefits of technological progress are enjoyed by every individual. Together, we will ensure that tools remain the agents of progress and not the instruments of exploitation.
Join us in embracing the transformative potential of tools and labor. Let us forge a path toward a society where human ingenuity, collaboration, and the pursuit of common well-being guide our endeavors. By uniting as a collective, we can shape the future we aspire to—a future where tools and labor work hand in hand to create a society that is fair, inclusive, and sustainable.
We, the people, recognize that the Commons is not merely a shared resource, but a powerful means of production that belongs to us all. We reject the prevailing system that subordinates the Commons to the will of capital, exploiting it for profit and perpetuating inequality. It is time to reclaim our power, to organize, plan, and produce for ourselves.
Today, we stand united under the banner of Commons Collective, a platform built on the principles of cooperation, equity, and sustainability. We envision a world where the people have direct control over the means of production, where the fruits of our labor are shared equitably, and where collective decision-making guides our actions.
As members of Commons Collective, we embrace the following tenets:
Together, we envision a world where the Commons is the foundation for a more just, sustainable, and egalitarian society. By joining Commons Collective, we embark on a transformative journey, building alternative models of production that prioritize people's well-being over profit. We invite all individuals and communities to unite with us, unleash our collective potential, and shape a future where production is truly by the people, for the people, of the people.
Join us in the Commons Collective, where together, we create a world that honors the inherent dignity and collective power of every individual.
OUR ADDRESS
(+91) 88866 10365
hello@commonscollective.cc
Mithra Hills, Hyder Nagar, Hyderabad,India - 500072