Civilisation & Commons

Hosted by Michel Bauwens

Monthly theme:

April | Feÿ Ludens - We play

The Commons is the great forgotten institution of western modernity and the political economy of capitalism but is currently undergoing a practical and intellectual revival.

Michel Bauwens, based on his two-decade long observation of contemporary commons-oriented initiatives and on a five-year long intensive study on the findings of the  macro-historials, proposes a three part introduction to the Pulsation of the Commons in human history, and how these historical insights can help us devise strategies for the current transition:

Session 1 | The Pulsation of the Commons: A review of the findings of the macro-historians that can help in understanding the historical and current role of the commons as a practice and institution

Session 2 | Towards Commons-Based Instruments of Expansion: Insights into the various identified historical cycles, types of temporalities, phase-resonant strategies and tactics; what do we know about the dynamics of societal transitions and value revolutions

Session 3 | The Construction of a Cosmo-Local Planetary Civilization: How to think the current transition; how can contemporary com\moners become agents of historical change; what is the proper role of technology in a emancipatory struggle; how to reconcile tradition and change, how to 'transcend and include'?

FORMAT:

• first two are lectures with discussions, 3 hours : half for me, half for discussions

• the last is an interactive workshop of more rounded collective inquiry