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.