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History
In the past there were some people who expressed some unhappiness with the project. At some point Stefan Meretz started a survey on [ox-de] regarding these things.
To gather this input and to turn it into some productive output and a better future for Oekonux on [pox] Stefan Merten started a survey about the future of Oekonux.
These were the initial questions posed:
- What do you think were the roles of Oekonux in the past?
- Which problems do you see in Oekonux?
- What do you value in Oekonux?
- What would you like to see in Oekonux?
Answers
Here are the answers to those questions.
What do you think were the roles of Oekonux in the past?
StefanMz in wiki:Archive_pox:05790.html:
In my view our main function is to be a meta project to reflect developments in Free movements - of course with Free Software as core - with the perpective of generalization, "whether the principles of the development of Free Software may be the foundation of a new economy which may be the base for a new society" (website). A second goal was (and is) to collect knowledge about Free projects (which has started in Oekonux-Wiki). However, we should think of a publicly maintained database with convenient retrieval functions.
StefanMn in wiki:Archive_pox:05869.html:
* Oekonux presented (and still presents) a in many regards new political theory based on a number of new cornerstones Especially the germ form theory is largely different from earlier reform or revolution theories. This approach makes Oekonux interesting for some who are ready to think in new ways and to be critical about what they thought so far. On the other hand this approach makes Oekonux suspect or even dangerous for others who want to stick to there thinking. This illustrates two roles Oekonux plays in the recognition from outside as well from the inside. In both roles Oekonux has influenced many people - though the connection is not always clearly visible. * Oekonux politicized a number of people As it seems a number of people participating in Oekonux were not very much into politics before. For these people Oekonux is more or less the first contact to a way of political thinking which is not so common in mainstream society. One result is that these people discover the large array of leftist political approaches which exists - especially as far as the self-organized scene is concerned. * Oekonux brought the phenomenon of Free Software on a theoretical and political stage on a sustainable basis Today in science there is some recoginition of Free Software as an interesting phenomenon which is worth studying and theorizing about. When Oekonux started back in 1999 there were virtually nobody who did this in any substantial way. In this sense Oekonux is certainly the first mover. The classical leftist scene is mostly still simply ignorant about Free Software and similar phenomenons. * Oekonux is one of very few active political projects today Thirty or twenty years ago there were lots and lots of political projects with many organizational forms which were all into some emancipatory politics in one way or the other. Today there are vritually no more such projects. Oekonux is one of the few political projects which exists, is active, and clearly heads into some future.
FranzN in wiki:Archive_pox:05876.html:
To bring people in contact that see the potential of a new mode of production heralded by free software. To even mine this thought in the public thinking. To facilitate flow of information.
Which problems do you see in Oekonux?
StefanMz in wiki:Archive_pox:05790.html:
The main problem is to find a new focus. Main generalizations about how to extend principles of Free Software to whole society are done, although not carefully documented. Now, a next step, a next focus is needed. However, I am not sure, if it is possible to find a "new focus" at all. Having the two goals - generalization and collection - in the past and maybe in present, a problem is to separate these functions, because they work different. Generalization needs debate, collection does not (necessarily). IMHO a simple mailinglist is a too poor tool for these different goals, and the current wiki isn't a good solution too.
StefanMn in wiki:Archive_pox:05869.html:
* That the fourth conference doesn't take off * In the past: A rather unclear leadership
FranzN in wiki:Archive_pox:05876.html:
* A lack of common goals. It seems that there is a lot of agreement on the value of the general proposition but no way to create motivating next steps. * Discouragement. Productive energy is not reinforced and channelled. * Inability to turn from a "pioneer plant" to a "specialized plant"
What do you value in Oekonux?
StefanMz in wiki:Archive_pox:05790.html:
It is a room of meta reflections about developments in (not only) Free Software.
StefanMn in wiki:Archive_pox:05869.html:
* Discussions in Oekonux are often very insightful and inspiring * Very most discussions are inspired by the will to learn something * That Oekonux exists for so long now * The ability to respond to difficult questions like the unclear leadership * That Oekonux is not an end in itself Oekonux works on topics which are again and again triggered by things happening outside of Oekonux. This again and again gives new stuff for thought and new insights resulting from this.
FranzN in wiki:Archive_pox:05876.html:
* Oekonux is still an "anchor" that holds people together.
What would you like to see in Oekonux?
StefanMz in wiki:Archive_pox:05790.html:
First, a general debate about a new focus mentioned above. Second, an ongoing reflection of even contradictorily developments in Free movements. Third, a continous collaboration with other projects. Fourth, a fourth ox conference, maybe together with WOS. Firth, a renovation of tools: mailinglist, website, wiki, content management, databases etc. (which, however, is only possible when found a new purpose for the whole project - but this is a wish list).
StefanMn in wiki:Archive_pox:05869.html:
* The fourth conference * More interesting discussions and insights * More usage of the Wiki by more people
FlorianS in wiki:Archive_pox:05870.html:
"Public output as papers, articles, a wiki section for the public etc.". As already mentioned by Stefan Mz in his last sentence of "Roles of Oekonux in the past" striving for more public reception has positive effects. To name some: More concise output, higher quality of output, more public perception, hopefully a better structured discussion, ... Generally (and psychologically) this suggestion would create specific aims as "get the paper on topic xyz in a state the majority agrees to and in shape for public release".
FranzN in wiki:Archive_pox:05876.html:
Hard to say. Its just a wishlist, isn't it? Maybe 4-5 concrete goals and commitments that are of real value to people outside, like: * maintaining a repository of free projects (I myself get discouraged when I am the only one doing it) * figure out how free projects can support each other (need assessment) * facilitate new forms of dialogue and media (may be Oekonux-TV) * ongoing efforts to support scientific publishing and quality and to attract scholarships for meaningful endavours (yes, that's against the Dogma, but that was never my dogma) * become a voice of productive possibilities and stand more firmly in public. For example show what Free Modes could mean for societal wealth.
Keywords
Here are some selected keywords from the answers.
Past
Oekonux as a project
- Meta project about Free movements
- Knowledge collection and public presentation
- Place to meet others with similar interests
- Valuable and inspiring discussions
Oekonux theory
- Reflection of developments in Free movements
- Perspective: Whole society, new society, positive future
- Stands for a new, sustainable political theory
- Theory based on visible evidence from Free movements
Current problems
General
- Finding a new focus / common goals
- Next steps are unclear
Specific
- 4th conference doesn't take off
- Useable theory documentation lacking
- Virtual infrastructure is not adequate
ToDos
- General debate about a new focus / common goals
- Ongoing reflection about practical developments in Free movements
- Collaboration with other projects
- 4th conference
- General overhaul and extension of the virtual infrastructure
- More public output
- Papers, articles
- Repository of Free projects
- Showing the possibilities of Free modes
- Support for Free projects on how to collaborate