The Journal of Peer Production,
an academic publication focused on exploring the emergence of a peer-to-peer
economic model in society, has issued a call for papers for a special issue on
the topic of “value and currency in peer production.” The journal
aims to investigate the role of digital money in a peer-to-peer society and
invites researchers to submit proposals addressing various related topics.
While the Journal of Peer
Production may not be well-known in the Bitcoin community, a similar group, the
P2P Foundation, has gained some exposure in the Bitcoin space. The P2P
Foundation made headlines when it started paying salaries in Bitcoin to show
support for the currency. Michel Bauwens, one of the founders of the P2P
Foundation, has also discussed the significance of Bitcoin on the Keiser
Report. The P2P Foundation’s purpose is to document, study, and promote
peer-to-peer practices worldwide, building a knowledge commons of such
practices on its wiki.
In contrast, the Journal of Peer
Production focuses on releasing in-depth peer-reviewed articles on specific
topics. It publishes issues annually in July and has covered a range of
subjects, including file sharing, free software, hackerspaces, and the democratization
of biotechnology. The journal’s upcoming issue will focus on free software
epistemics.
Both the P2P Foundation and the
Journal of Peer Production offer valuable insights into radical politics and
economics, which align with the interests of the Bitcoin community. The P2P
ideology can be described as libertarian, although different from the
libertarianism promoted by some Bitcoin writers. While the P2P Foundation
generally supports Bitcoin, Bauwens has raised concerns about its limited
supply, arguing that it perpetuates wealth accumulation. The Journal of Peer
Production has even referred to peer-to-peer society as a “new communist
horizon,” emphasizing its distinction from traditional authoritarian state
communism.
For members of the Bitcoin community
interested in exploring larger societal questions addressed by technologies
like Bitcoin, the Journal of Peer Production and the P2P Foundation are
recommended sources to broaden their ideological perspectives. Researchers with
insights on topics such as local and alternative currencies, financing public
goods in a peer-to-peer world, trust, and anonymity are encouraged to submit
proposal abstracts (maximum 500 words) to the foundation by January 28, 2013.
Overall, the call for papers by
the Journal of Peer Production highlights the increasing recognition of digital
money, like Bitcoin, and its potential impact on peer-to-peer economies. The
exploration of these topics contributes to the ongoing discussion surrounding
the role of currency in a decentralized society.
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