Marcus Meindel

Texts

→ Open Marx (EN/DE, 2018): an easily accessible short introduction to the capitalist mode of production according to Marx. Intended as a brochure to print out and distribute yourself.

The Expansion Drive of Modern Commons (EN/DE, 2018): In a revision of Make Capitalism History (Meretz/Sutterlütti), it was highlighted that a “common instance for self-organization and the purposive determination of means” is needed for a social transformation. At the centre of the work is a structural formula of commoning, which ultimately became the guiding thread of the Caretaker Tech project. (CtT Essay #1)

The Timeless Way of Re-Production (EN/DE, 2019): How can the cooperation of activities within complex re-production processes be coordinated on an equal footing when there is no planning instance, only the overarching purpose of satisfying needs as comprehensively as possible? Drawing on Christopher Alexander’s The Timeless Way of Building, an answer to this question is developed. (CtT Essay #2)

Ostrom for Beginners & Sharing for the Advanced (EN/DE, 2023): Ostrom for Beginners is a summary of Elinor Ostrom’s Understanding Institutional Diversity that is as accessible as possible; the book is itself her own summary of her oeuvre. We learn how rules at different levels shape our action, how these framework conditions can be shaped, and finally what is needed to manage shared resources more successfully. Sharing for the Advanced is an attempt to apply Ostrom’s insights to the design of digital tools that support more complex forms of sharing under modern conditions. (CtT Essay #3)

→ Assumptions on Caretaker Tech (EN, since 2019): A map of digital functions for promoting a way of life beyond market and state. The three Caretaker Tech essays served as preparation for this main work. (not yet completed)

The Tragedy of Commoning et al. (2023): Today, the commons hold the hope for a society beyond market and state. This text explores how that came about and where its limits lie. (Published in: “Vergesellschaftung und die sozialökologische Frage”)

All texts are published under a Creative Commons licence.

Talks

→ Why Work Never Decreases (DE): a highly visual introduction to the rather unwieldy first chapter of Marx’s Capital. The focus is on the seemingly natural way of thinking that accompanies relating to the things of the world as commodities.

→ Social Change through Free Software and Open Standards (DE): an introduction to the functional complexes of the “Global Commoning System” (predecessor project of Caretaker Tech) and the most recent introduction to the topic. Delivered at Grazer Linuxtage 2023. // Slides on Speakerdeck (CC BY 4.0)

Free Software for a Life beyond Market and State (DE): a fairly detailed talk on the state of the conception of the “Global Commoning System” (predecessor project of Caretaker Tech) in 2022. Possibilities for technical implementation are not addressed. Delivered at “Bits & Bäume 2022”.

Patterns of Commoning (DE): What are these patterns, how do they arise, and do they help with transformation? With and about Silke Helfrich. (Module in the series: “Das Gemeinsame heute”)

Commons as a Social Form (DE): Grasping commons and commoning theoretically is challenging. The talk visually breaks down Johannes Euler’s definition of commoning and commons as a corresponding ‘social form’. (Module in the series: “Das Gemeinsame heute”)

Linux from the Outside – An Introduction for Switchers (DE): Linux is not only technology but also very much social. The talk presents what distributions are, what makes the GNU General Public License (GPL) so special, and what context distributions can stand in.

In Context

→ Caretaker Tech: A project promoting a digital sphere that supports economic practices beyond market and state. A three-part project consisting of collected assumptions about such a digital sphere, research into existing foundations for it, and Solarpunk stories to make a world with such a digital sphere imaginable.

Commons-Institut e.V.: a network of commons activists in the German-speaking world. A nomadic institute with open meetings twice a year.

Freiraumfest: “non-commercial and self-organised: the festival from below”. An initiative networking Graz’s free-space culture since 2023.

Die Kometin: a community-run space in Graz.

Miscellaneous

Podcast conversation “Future Histories” on the Global Commoning System (2022)

Materialist Meditations: Guided meditations for dissolving the specific consciousness of a commodity-producing society. With Mariella Widauer & Dustin Leigart.

Risograph templates for the “Patterns of Commoning”: The set of 33 pattern cards is a very helpful tool for bringing freedom, liveliness and fairness into the world. The card set is under a free licence and is provided here as a risograph template.

Music video HEIM: “Nicht mehr da” (2017)

Short film “Viktor Stern’s Last Night” (DE + engl. subtitles): A war correspondent on his way to Ukraine. A woman in his room who is not what she seems. With Michael Ihnow, Martina Ysker and Korinna Krauss. (20 minutes, 2015)

Contact

Location: Graz, AT

Email: kontakt[_]marcus-meindel[_]de (PGP)

Signal: emze.77

Photo: Fernando-Luisa