Imagine a world where the collaborative spirit of a bustling farmers’ market, the shared knowledge of an open-source software project, and the radical democracy of a worker-owned cooperative, all coalesce on a global scale. This is the promise of a globally interconnected commons, a future where the DisCO revolution transcends the boundaries of individual cities and communities, weaving together a vibrant tapestry of shared resources, knowledge, and practices for the benefit of all.
But can this dream become a reality? Can the DisCO revolution, rooted as it is in the territorial assemblage, scale up to create a global commons without losing its soul, without being co-opted by the extractive forces of the capitalist assemblage or the bureaucratic control of the state assemblage?
This is the challenge we explore in this post, a journey that takes us from the cobblestone streets of Bologna to the bustling plazas of Barcelona, and beyond, to the emerging networks of DisCOs weaving together a new economic and social fabric for the 21st century.
The Territorial Roots of the DisCO Revolution
DisCOs, as we’ve explored in previous posts, are all about grounding post-capitalist principles in real-world contexts. They’re about empowering communities to reclaim the commons, to democratize work, and to build more sustainable and equitable local economies. This focus on the territorial assemblage is what gives DisCOs their strength, their authenticity, and their ability to connect with people’s lived experiences.
Think of Laneras, nestled in the rolling hills of Extremadura, Spain, weaving together a sustainable future for Merino wool by reviving traditional knowledge, fostering collaboration among shepherds and artisans, and utilizing blockchain technology to create a transparent and ethical supply chain.
Or Cooperation Jackson, a network of worker cooperatives and community organizations in Jackson, Mississippi, building a solidarity economy rooted in collective ownership, democratic governance, and a commitment to racial and economic justice.
These DisCOs, and countless others like them, are demonstrating that another world is possible – a world where the commons flourish, and communities are empowered to shape their own destinies. But can this transformative energy scale beyond the local? Can it transcend the limitations of geographical boundaries and cultural differences to create a globally interconnected commons?
Learning from the Cities: Bologna and Barcelona as Seeds of Change
The answer, perhaps surprisingly, lies in the very heart of the state assemblage. Cities, as dynamic hubs of social and economic activity, are increasingly becoming incubators for commons-based initiatives. And in a few pioneering cases, city governments are actively embracing the commons, creating new regulatory frameworks and fostering partnerships with citizen-led organizations to build a more just and sustainable urban future.
Two cities stand out as beacons of hope: Bologna, Italy, with its groundbreaking Regulation for the Care and Regeneration of the Urban Commons, and Barcelona, Spain, with its citizen-led platform, Barcelona en Comú.
The Bologna Regulation: A Legal Framework for Commoning
In 2014, the city of Bologna, inspired by a growing movement of urban commons initiatives, adopted a radical new regulation. This regulation recognizes the right of citizens to collectively manage public spaces, buildings, and other resources, empowering them to become active stewards of the urban commons. It creates a framework for collaboration between the city government and citizen groups, providing resources, legal recognition, and support for commoning initiatives.
Think of a group of residents transforming an abandoned building into a community center, a network of urban gardeners creating a shared green space, or a collective of artists opening a co-working space for creative collaboration – all facilitated and supported by the city government.
The Bologna Regulation is a testament to the transformative potential of the state assemblage when it embraces the commons, becoming a “partner state” that empowers citizens to take ownership of their city and co-create a more equitable and sustainable future.
Barcelona en Comú: A Citizen-Led Platform for Urban Transformation
In Barcelona, the push towards a commons-centric city has come from the bottom up. In 2014, a citizen platform, Barcelona en Comú, emerged from a network of social movements, community organizations, and progressive political parties, all united by a shared vision for a more just, equitable, and sustainable city. This platform, led by Ada Colau, a former anti-eviction activist, won the municipal elections in 2015, bringing a radical commons agenda to the forefront of city governance.
Think of Barcelona en Comú’s support for the “collaborative economy,” with initiatives like the Collaborative Economy Action Plan and BarCola, a working group that brings together city officials and commons-oriented entrepreneurs to develop policies and foster collaboration.
Or its commitment to democratizing technology, with projects like Decidim Barcelona, a digital platform for participatory budgeting and citizen engagement, and the Ateneus de Fabricació, a network of publicly funded Fab Labs that provide access to digital fabrication tools and training for all.
Barcelona en Comú is a powerful example of how the power of the state assemblage can be harnessed by citizen movements to promote the commons, creating a more democratic and participatory model of urban governance.
Beyond the City Walls: Translocalism and the Global Commons
The experiences of Bologna and Barcelona demonstrate the potential for cities to become seedbeds for a commons-centric future. But to truly challenge the dominant logic of the capitalist assemblage and create a more equitable and sustainable world, the DisCO revolution must transcend the limitations of individual cities and territories, weaving together a global commons that connects and empowers communities around the world. This is where the concept of translocalism comes into play.
Translocalism: Weaving Together Global Networks of Solidarity and Exchange
Translocalism, as a concept, recognizes that while DisCOs are rooted in specific territories and communities, they are also interconnected through transnational networks of solidarity, knowledge sharing, and collaboration. It’s about building bridges across borders, sharing resources and expertise, and learning from each other’s experiences.
Think of the Guerrilla Media Collective, a DisCO based in Spain that translates texts and produces content related to social and environmental justice, creating a “commons of knowledge” that transcends language barriers and empowers activists and communities around the world.
Or TAZEBAEZ, a transnational DisCO LAB with spaces in Bilbao, Berlin, and Seoul, fostering collaborative work, creative production, and knowledge sharing among artists, designers, and social entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds.
These DisCOs, and others like them, are demonstrating the power of the nomadic assemblage to connect and empower communities across geographical and cultural boundaries. They are creating a new kind of global network, one based not on exploitation and extraction, but on solidarity, reciprocity, and the common good.
The Role of City Governments and International Organizations
The emergence of a global commons requires a multi-scalar approach, one that involves not just the grassroots efforts of DisCOs, but also the support of city governments, national policies, and international organizations. Here are a few key actions that can help foster the growth of a global commons:
- Promoting Translocal Collaboration: City governments can support the creation of networks and partnerships between DisCOs in different cities, facilitating knowledge exchange, resource sharing, and joint projects. This can involve creating funding programs, providing logistical support, and fostering a culture of collaboration and peer-learning.
- Advocating for Commons-Friendly Policies: National governments can play a vital role in creating a legal and regulatory environment that supports the commons, such as recognizing the legal status of commons-based organizations, promoting open licensing for publicly funded research, and enacting policies that limit the enclosure of common resources by private interests.
- Supporting a Global Commons Agenda: International organizations, such as the United Nations, can play a vital role in promoting the commons as a global framework for sustainable development, fostering collaboration between nations, and creating international agreements that protect and nurture global commons, such as the oceans, the atmosphere, and biodiversity.
The Postcapitalist Assemblage: A New Economic and Social Fabric
The DisCO revolution, through its embrace of the commons, translocalism, and a more ethical and sustainable approach to technology, is contributing to the emergence of the postcapitalist assemblage – a new economic and social fabric that challenges the dominance of the capitalist market and the limitations of the nation-state. This emerging assemblage is characterized by:
- Distributed Power and Governance: Power is decentralized and distributed among networks of communities and organizations, rather than being concentrated in the hands of corporations or governments.
- Collective Ownership and Stewardship: Resources are collectively owned and managed for the common good, rather than being privatized and exploited for profit.
- Collaboration and Mutual Aid: Cooperation and solidarity replace competition and individualism as the driving forces of economic and social life.
- Social and Ecological Justice: The well-being of people and the planet takes precedence over the pursuit of profit and endless growth.
The DisCO diaspora, with its nomadic spirit, its commitment to the commons, and its innovative use of technology, is a vital force in this emerging postcapitalist assemblage. It is weaving together a new economic and social fabric, one thread of connection, one act of collaboration, and one seed of change at a time.
Conclusion: From City Limits to a Global Horizon
The challenge of scaling the DisCO revolution to a global commons is not without its complexities and obstacles. The entrenched power of the capitalist assemblage, the bureaucratic inertia of the state assemblage, and the deep-seated cultural norms that prioritize individualism and competition are formidable barriers to overcome.
However, the growing awareness of the limitations of the current system, the increasing desire for a more just and sustainable world, and the inspiring examples of DisCOs and other commons-based initiatives around the world offer a glimmer of hope.
The DisCO revolution, fueled by the energy of the commons, the collaborative power of translocal networks, and a re-enchanted vision of work and technology, is starting to rewrite the rules of the game. It’s a movement that’s not about seizing power, but about distributing it; not about building walls, but about weaving connections; not about extracting value, but about generating abundance for the benefit of all.
The journey from city limits to a global horizon has just begun.
Postcapitalist Assemblages 
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