---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Cat Johnson <[email protected]> Date: Thu, Nov 6, 2014 at 3:38 AM Subject: Re: Q&A for Shareable about multi-stakeholder coops To: Michel Bauwens <[email protected]> Hi Michel Here's the link to the Q&A: http://www.shareable.net/blog/michel-bauwens-on-the-rise-of-multi-stakeholde... Thanks again! Please keep me in the loop of interesting and exciting things you're working on as I'm always on the lookout for great story ideas. Cheers, Cat On Tue, Nov 4, 2014 at 12:58 PM, Michel Bauwens <[email protected]> wrote:
ok, i'm adding material
On Tue, Nov 4, 2014 at 12:20 AM, Cat Johnson <[email protected]> wrote:
Hi Michel
Could you please clarify the following:
In your response to the first question, you mention two other suggestions you have for multi-stakeholder coops but then only share one, that they must co-produce commons. What is the second suggestion? Here's the text:
"The two extra requirements we suggest are that 3) the new coops must
co-produce commons, whether immaterial or material. The Catalan Integral Cooperative is an example of a new type of coop that only produces shared knowledge in common pool resources but it is not yet global in orientation, as the name suggests. However, it's project to create a global coalition of open coops through fair.coop is a step in that direction. The Alliance Solidaria housing coop in Quito is an example of a coop producing physical commons, as it reclaims the polluted ravines in South Quito, giving it back to the community.
The final requirement I propose is a global approach, to create counter-power for a global ethical economy consisting of cooperative alliances. An example of that is the approach of
Las Indias, ie. their coop is oriented towards the global, and they
have the interesting concept of phylia, i.e. a global ecosystem that sustains a community and its commons. The pieces of the puzzle are beginning to get in place, but they have as yet to find their integration in one clear example."
Cheers, Cat
On Fri, Oct 31, 2014 at 10:50 AM, Michel Bauwens < [email protected]> wrote:
looking forward to see it,
you're writing formidable things yourself!
On Fri, Oct 31, 2014 at 11:13 PM, Cat Johnson <[email protected]> wrote:
Thank you, Michel
This is such valuable and insightful information. I appreciate you taking the time to share.
Cheers, Cat
On Fri, Oct 31, 2014 at 9:00 AM, Michel Bauwens < [email protected]> wrote:
inline
On Fri, Oct 31, 2014 at 9:07 PM, Cat Johnson <[email protected]> wrote:
HI Michel
I'm so sorry you got ill. That's never fun.
Thank you for staying with this! Here are the last two questions:
[?] What is the big picture vision for this movement? What would you most like to see?
The big picture is a move away from extractive forms of capital, to generative forms of captal, as defined by Majorie Kelly in her book on the Emerging Ownership Revolution. The problem is that even worker's coop, like Mondragon, may end up behaving in capitalist ways on the capitalist market, without solving the grave problems that the world is facing. With the emergence of peer production, we potentially have the hyper-exploittion of human cooperation, and generalized precarity, because the value creators, which are now often the users as well, are not getting any reward for their contributions. Worker and consumer coops, to the degree they only work for their own members, are in my view insufficient models to integrate the new social and environmental externalities. Thus we need new models like the open coops I call for, which includes multi-stakeholdership and the co-production of the value chain by everyone affected by a provisioning service.
[?] Is there anything you’d like to add? What else should we know about the multi-stakeholder cooperative movement?
The key question is: are we creating positive externalities and taking responsibility for our negative externalities. Are we not harming the common, but rather adding value to it.
Cheers, Cat
On Fri, Oct 31, 2014 at 2:29 AM, Michel Bauwens < [email protected]> wrote:
> you can send me the next two , > > Michel > > On Fri, Oct 31, 2014 at 4:28 PM, Michel Bauwens < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> oops, sorry for answering later than expected, got ill with the flu >> >> On Tue, Oct 28, 2014 at 10:06 PM, Cat Johnson < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Hello Michel >>> >>> Just checking in to make sure you received my question from >>> earlier this week: >>> >>> [?] Multi-stakeholder coops require an advanced level of >>> organization and communication? But committing to this process could prove >>> to be revolutionary in creating vital, thriving organizations. What are the >>> biggest challenges to creating a multi-stakeholder coop and what’s the >>> benefit of working through these challenges? >>> >> >> >> The key issue for me is the balance between efficiency and >> participation; what is to be avoided is the weakness of time-consuming >> deliberations that end up exhausting the membership. So there need to be >> trust between the various stakeholders, but once agreement is reached on >> the right direction, autonomy for those who have to implement it. >> >>> >>> and give you another question: >>> >>> [?] Multi-stakeholder coops are about more than people making >>> money—they’re rooted in democratic process and require a shared vision by >>> all involved. What, would you say, is the higher purpose of these >>> organizations? >>> >> >> In the old system, we have competing entities and within these >> entities there is cooperation. In the new system it is the >> opposite,everyone cooperates around shared commons, but within this >> cooperation, there is room for competition between various entities that >> build service and product models around these shared resources. In the old >> model, only self-interest is recognized, externalities are expelled from >> consideration, and 'what is legal is ethical'. In the new model, a >> plurarity of motivations is recognized, including room for self-interest if >> it aligns with the common goal; and externalities are integrated in the >> market model. In the old model, exchange value is created for profit, and >> the new model, use value is generated and any profit is used to achieve >> that social goal. >> >>> >>> >>> Cheers, >>> Cat >>> >>> On Sun, Oct 26, 2014 at 6:45 AM, Cat Johnson < >>> [email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> Hello Michel >>>> >>>> Here's the next question. Thanks! >>>> >>>> [?] Multi-stakeholder coops require an advanced level of >>>> organization and communication? But committing to this process could prove >>>> to be revolutionary in creating vital, thriving organizations. What are the >>>> biggest challenges to creating a multi-stakeholder coop and what’s the >>>> benefit of working through these challenges? >>>> >>>> Cat. >>>> >>>> On Fri, Oct 24, 2014 at 12:55 PM, Michel Bauwens < >>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>>> the next one .. if you confirm each time that gets me going for >>>>> the next, thanks for your flexibility >>>>> >>>>> On Fri, Oct 24, 2014 at 8:25 PM, Cat Johnson < >>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Thank you, Michel, for such thorough, insightful responses. >>>>>> >>>>>> Considering your timeline and the thoroughness of your >>>>>> responses, I'm going to condense the questions. Here are four more that you >>>>>> can answer over the next few days, then we can publish next week as >>>>>> planned. Thanks! >>>>>> >>>>>> [?] What kind of transformational potential do >>>>>> multi-stakeholder coops hold, on a personal level as well as on a community >>>>>> level? >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> The problem with the capitalist market and enterprise is that it >>>>> excludes negative externalities, social and environmental, from its field >>>>> of vision. Worker or consumer-owned cooperatives, who operate in the >>>>> competitive marketplace, solve work democracy issues but not the issues of >>>>> exernalities. Following the competitive logic and the interests of their >>>>> own members only, they eventually start behaving in very similar ways. One >>>>> of the ways to integrate externalities is to integrate all affected parties >>>>> in a multi-stakeholder structure, including bold moves like perhaps >>>>> inviting in 'representatives of nature', which makes sure ecological >>>>> concers are heard. If we would add to this mix the requirement to co-create >>>>> commons, then not only would such a structure avoid negative externalities, >>>>> but it would produce positive externalities beyond the interests of its own >>>>> membership. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> [?] Multi-stakeholder coops require an advanced level of >>>>>> organization and communication? But committing to this process could prove >>>>>> to be revolutionary in creating vital, thriving organizations. What are the >>>>>> biggest challenges to creating a multi-stakeholder coop and what’s the >>>>>> benefit of working through these challenges? >>>>>> >>>>>> [?] Multi-stakeholder coops are about more than people making >>>>>> money—they’re rooted in democratic process and require a shared vision by >>>>>> all involved. What, would you say, is the higher purpose of these >>>>>> organizations? >>>>>> >>>>>> [?] What is the big picture vision for this movement? What >>>>>> would you most like to see? >>>>>> >>>>>> Is there anything you’d like to add? >>>>>> >>>>>> Cheers, >>>>>> Cat >>>>>> >>>>>> On Fri, Oct 24, 2014 at 1:50 AM, Michel Bauwens < >>>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> dear Cat, >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I can only do 1-2 a day until the 27th, then I can up the ante >>>>>>> as I will be without public engagement for a few days, >>>>>>> >>>>>>> so I answer the first ones, and when you resend I do the rest, >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Michel >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Mon, Oct 20, 2014 at 11:05 PM, Cat Johnson < >>>>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Hello Michel >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Here are the questions. Thank you for taking the time to do >>>>>>>> this—I'm excited to share the multi-stakeholder coop model with Shareable >>>>>>>> readers. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> If possible, please get your responses back to me by >>>>>>>> Thursday. If this is not possible, please let me know so we can adjust our >>>>>>>> publication schedule. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Cheers, >>>>>>>> Cat >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> [?] Multi-stakeholder coops are like super coops, where >>>>>>>> producers, consumers and more are all working together. Why is this model >>>>>>>> important? What’s the most interesting or exciting aspect of it? >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Many traditional coops are for-profits that work for their >>>>>>> members, and end up accepting the competitive logic of the neoliberal >>>>>>> marketplace. An example that comes to mind is that Mondragon hires Polish >>>>>>> workers at low wages to preserve its own corporate interest. So , the >>>>>>> democratic aspects of one person, one share, one vote are certainly >>>>>>> important, but no longer sufficient. But for us. multi-stakeholdership is >>>>>>> part of a four-fold proposal for open cooperatives, which would involve >>>>>>> four simultanous changes. First, open coops should be oriented towards the >>>>>>> common good, in their own statutes, i.e. not for profit, but profit being >>>>>>> used to achieve the particular social goal; second, all people affected by >>>>>>> the activity should have a say, this is the specific multi-stakeholder >>>>>>> aspect. These two characteristics already exist in the solidarity coop >>>>>>> movement, especially in the delivery of social care in northern Italy >>>>>>> (Emilia-Romagna) and Quebec, as reported by John Restakis in his excellent >>>>>>> book, Humanizing the Economy. The two extra requirements we suggest are >>>>>>> that 3) the new coops must co-produce commons, whether immaterial or >>>>>>> material. The Catalan Integral Cooperative is an example of a new type of >>>>>>> coop that only produces shared knowledge in common pool resources but it is >>>>>>> not yet global in orientation, as the name suggests. However, it's project >>>>>>> to create a global coalition of open coops through fair.coop >>>>>>> is a step in that direction. The Alliance Solidaria housing coop in Quito >>>>>>> is an example of a coop producing physical commons, as it reclaims the >>>>>>> polluted ravines in South Quito, giving it back to the community. The >>>>>>> approach of Las Indias is global, and they have the interesting concept of >>>>>>> phylia, i.e. a global ecosystem that sustains a community and its commons. >>>>>>> The pieces of the puzzle are beginning to get in place, but they have as >>>>>>> yet to find their integration in one clear example. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> [?] Where are you seeing multi-stakeholder coops take off? Is >>>>>>>> there any place in particular where they are really thriving? >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> As I mentioned above, the field of social care in Quebec is >>>>>>> exemplary, and Margie Mendell tells us 98% of the new coops are solidartiy >>>>>>> coops. John Restakis has described the situation around Bologna. Key here >>>>>>> is that the care services are funded as a public service by the state, >>>>>>> guaranteeing universal access, but that the crafting of the process is a >>>>>>> co-production of all stakeholders, including the patient communities and >>>>>>> their families. Patients have a quite different vision of what they need >>>>>>> than process oriented industrial hospitals, resulting in soaring >>>>>>> satisfaction rates. In the commons transition plan that was crafted for the >>>>>>> government in Ecuador, the place giving to such cooperatives was primordial >>>>>>> and we introduced two radical new concepts: one are public - commons >>>>>>> partnerships, which should replace extractive forms of public-private >>>>>>> partnerships which exclude the particiption of civil society; and the other >>>>>>> is the commonification of public services, as was done for public water in >>>>>>> Napoli, which is now called 'Aqua Beni Communi', with a Commissioner for >>>>>>> the Commons in place within the City of Naples. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> [?] Why are multi-stakeholder coops viable in some places and >>>>>>>> not others? >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> [?] You’ve said that multi-stakeholder coops are where the >>>>>>>> action is now. Why is that? >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> [?] What kind of transformational potential do >>>>>>>> multi-stakeholder coops hold, on a personal level as well as on a community >>>>>>>> level? >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> [?] Multi-stakeholder coops require an advanced level of >>>>>>>> organization and communication? But committing to this process could prove >>>>>>>> to be revolutionary in creating vital, thriving organizations. What are the >>>>>>>> biggest challenges to creating a multi-stakeholder coop and what’s the >>>>>>>> benefit of working through these challenges? >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> [?] Multi-stakeholder coops are about more than people making >>>>>>>> money—they’re rooted in democratic process and require a shared vision by >>>>>>>> all involved. What, would you say, is the higher purpose of these >>>>>>>> organizations? >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> [?] The word “solidarity” is used a lot in conjunction with >>>>>>>> multi-stakeholder coops. How do you see the solidarity movement and the >>>>>>>> multi-stakeholder coop movement intertwining or working together? >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> [?] What kind of growth are we seeing with the >>>>>>>> multi-stakeholder coop movement? What does it need to gain more traction? >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> [?] What is the big picture vision for this movement? What >>>>>>>> would you most like to see? >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> [?] Anything you’d like to add? >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Fri, Oct 17, 2014 at 8:27 AM, Michel Bauwens < >>>>>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> yes, please do, >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Michel >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On Fri, Oct 17, 2014 at 4:10 AM, Cat Johnson < >>>>>>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Hi Michel >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Just checking in to see if you're available to answer some >>>>>>>>>> email questions about multi-stakeholder coops. Let me know and I'll send >>>>>>>>>> some questions your way. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Cheers, >>>>>>>>>> Cat >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> On Mon, Oct 13, 2014 at 8:58 AM, Cat Johnson < >>>>>>>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> Hi Michel >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> I hope all is well with you. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> Are you available to answer some email questions about >>>>>>>>>>> multi-stakeholder coops for a Shareable Q&A? If so, I can get some >>>>>>>>>>> questions sent off this week. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> Cheers, >>>>>>>>>>> Cat >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>>>> Cat Johnson >>>>>>>>>>> Freelance Writer >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> CatJohnson.wordpress.com >>>>>>>>>>> Twitter.com/catjohnson >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>>> Cat Johnson >>>>>>>>>> Freelance Writer >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> CatJohnson.wordpress.com >>>>>>>>>> Twitter.com/catjohnson >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>> Check out the Commons Transition Plan here at: >>>>>>>>> http://en.wiki.floksociety.org/w/Research_Plan >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> P2P Foundation: http://p2pfoundation.net - >>>>>>>>> http://blog.p2pfoundation.net >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> <http://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation>Updates: >>>>>>>>> http://twitter.com/mbauwens; >>>>>>>>> http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> #82 on the (En)Rich list: >>>>>>>>> http://enrichlist.org/the-complete-list/ >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>> Cat Johnson >>>>>>>> Freelance Writer >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> CatJohnson.wordpress.com >>>>>>>> Twitter.com/catjohnson >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> Check out the Commons Transition Plan here at: >>>>>>> http://en.wiki.floksociety.org/w/Research_Plan >>>>>>> >>>>>>> P2P Foundation: http://p2pfoundation.net - >>>>>>> http://blog.p2pfoundation.net >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> <http://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation>Updates: >>>>>>> http://twitter.com/mbauwens; http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens >>>>>>> >>>>>>> #82 on the (En)Rich list: >>>>>>> http://enrichlist.org/the-complete-list/ >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> Cat Johnson >>>>>> Freelance Writer >>>>>> >>>>>> CatJohnson.wordpress.com >>>>>> Twitter.com/catjohnson >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> Check out the Commons Transition Plan here at: >>>>> http://en.wiki.floksociety.org/w/Research_Plan >>>>> >>>>> P2P Foundation: http://p2pfoundation.net - >>>>> http://blog.p2pfoundation.net >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> <http://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation>Updates: >>>>> http://twitter.com/mbauwens; http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens >>>>> >>>>> #82 on the (En)Rich list: >>>>> http://enrichlist.org/the-complete-list/ >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Cat Johnson >>>> Freelance Writer >>>> >>>> CatJohnson.wordpress.com >>>> Twitter.com/catjohnson >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Cat Johnson >>> Freelance Writer >>> >>> CatJohnson.wordpress.com >>> Twitter.com/catjohnson >>> >>> >> >> >> -- >> Check out the Commons Transition Plan here at: >> http://en.wiki.floksociety.org/w/Research_Plan >> >> P2P Foundation: http://p2pfoundation.net - >> http://blog.p2pfoundation.net >> >> >> <http://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation>Updates: >> http://twitter.com/mbauwens; http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens >> >> #82 on the (En)Rich list: http://enrichlist.org/the-complete-list/ >> > > > > -- > Check out the Commons Transition Plan here at: > http://en.wiki.floksociety.org/w/Research_Plan > > P2P Foundation: http://p2pfoundation.net - > http://blog.p2pfoundation.net > > <http://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation>Updates: > http://twitter.com/mbauwens; http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens > > #82 on the (En)Rich list: http://enrichlist.org/the-complete-list/ >
-- Cat Johnson Freelance Writer
CatJohnson.wordpress.com Twitter.com/catjohnson
-- Check out the Commons Transition Plan here at: http://en.wiki.floksociety.org/w/Research_Plan
P2P Foundation: http://p2pfoundation.net - http://blog.p2pfoundation.net
<http://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation>Updates: http://twitter.com/mbauwens; http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens
#82 on the (En)Rich list: http://enrichlist.org/the-complete-list/
-- Cat Johnson Freelance Writer
CatJohnson.wordpress.com Twitter.com/catjohnson
-- Check out the Commons Transition Plan here at: http://en.wiki.floksociety.org/w/Research_Plan
P2P Foundation: http://p2pfoundation.net - http://blog.p2pfoundation.net
<http://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation>Updates: http://twitter.com/mbauwens; http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens
#82 on the (En)Rich list: http://enrichlist.org/the-complete-list/
-- Cat Johnson Freelance Writer
CatJohnson.wordpress.com Twitter.com/catjohnson
-- Check out the Commons Transition Plan here at: http://en.wiki.floksociety.org/w/Research_Plan
P2P Foundation: http://p2pfoundation.net - http://blog.p2pfoundation.net
<http://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation>Updates: http://twitter.com/mbauwens; http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens
#82 on the (En)Rich list: http://enrichlist.org/the-complete-list/
-- Cat Johnson Freelance Writer CatJohnson.wordpress.com Twitter.com/catjohnson -- Check out the Commons Transition Plan here at: http://en.wiki.floksociety.org/w/Research_Plan P2P Foundation: http://p2pfoundation.net - http://blog.p2pfoundation.net <http://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation>Updates: http://twitter.com/mbauwens; http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens #82 on the (En)Rich list: http://enrichlist.org/the-complete-list/