From Capital to Commons

"A thoughtful, ambitious vision for how commoners might leverage digital technologies and open-source practices to usher in a humane, satisfying post-capitalist world. In a time when people’s aspirations for a better world have shrivelled and curdled, Gerhardt invites us to consider the feasible possibilities, if we dare." David Bollier, Schumacher Center for a New Economics

"How do we prevent the appropriation of the commons by capital, and instead, generate capital for the commons? Hannes Gerhardt has written a very useful primer on the way forward.” Michel Bauwens, P2P Foundation

Hannes Gerhardt is Professor of Geography at the University of West Georgia.

Introduction

PART I: Contemporary Capitalism and the Promise of the Digital Revolution

1. Theorizing Capitalism and its Demise

2. The Digital Commons' Elusive Potential

3. Taking Back the Interest

PART II: The Material Economy and the Commons

4. Democratizing Infrastructure

5. The Promise of 'Design Global, Manufacture Local'

6. Contending With the Limits of Our Natural World

PART III: Money and Value

7. Coping With Money's Monopoly on Value

8. Reinventing Money's Role in the Economy

PART IV: In Pursuit of a Post-Capitalist Future

9. Compeerists of the World Unite!

10. A Compeerist Society

Conclusion