AMMDI is an open-notebook hypertext writing experiment, authored by Mike Travers aka mtraven. It's a work in progress and some parts are more polished than others. Comments welcome! More.
Here are some prominent researchers, theorists, and organizations involved in the study of network governance and non-hierarchical organizations. Intensely interesting, Bill Seitz was asking about it in the context of The Ministry for the Future.
Wikipedia has an interesting decentralized governance structure
Key Contribution: Ostrom is renowned for her work on polycentric governance and collective action, particularly in managing common-pool resources. Her book "Governing the Commons" is foundational in this field.
Impact: Ostrom’s research has influenced various fields, including environmental governance, cooperative management, and decentralized organizational structures.
2. Manuel Castells
Key Contribution: Castells is a leading sociologist whose work on the network society has shaped understanding of how information technology influences organizational structures and governance.
Impact: His trilogy "The Information Age: Economy, Society, and Culture" explores the rise of networked forms of organization in the global economy.
3. David Bollier
Key Contribution: Bollier is a key figure in the commons movement, advocating for network-based governance models to manage shared resources and intellectual property.
Impact: His work, including "Think Like a Commoner," discusses the potential of commons-based governance as an alternative to traditional hierarchical systems.
4. Paul Adler
Key Contribution: Adler is known for his work on collaborative governance and network organizations within the corporate sector. He explores how non-hierarchical structures can be applied in business environments.
Impact: His research emphasizes the role of trust and cooperation in the effectiveness of networked organizations.
5. Clay Shirky
Key Contribution: Shirky’s work focuses on the impact of digital technologies on networked forms of organization and governance, particularly in social media and online communities.
Impact: His books, "Here Comes Everybody" and "Cognitive Surplus," explore how decentralized collaboration can lead to powerful new forms of collective action.
6. **Bauwens & Kostakis**
Key Contribution: Michel Bauwens and Vasilis Kostakis are key figures in the P2P (peer-to-peer) and commons-based peer production movements, advocating for decentralized and network-based models of governance.
Impact: Their work explores the potential of peer-to-peer networks to transform social and economic systems, particularly in the context of digital production and sharing economies.
7. Ethan Zuckerman
Key Contribution: Zuckerman’s research focuses on the intersection of digital technology and civic engagement, exploring how networked governance models can enhance democratic participation.
Impact: His book "Rewire: Digital Cosmopolitans in the Age of Connection" examines how global digital networks can influence governance and civic action.
8. The Ostrom Workshop
Key Contribution: Named after Elinor Ostrom, this research center at Indiana University focuses on the study of governance systems, particularly in decentralized and polycentric frameworks.
Impact: The Ostrom Workshop conducts interdisciplinary research and has contributed significantly to the understanding of network governance in various contexts.
9. **Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University**
Key Contribution: The Berkman Klein Center conducts research on digital governance, including the study of networked forms of organization and decentralized decision-making.
Impact: The center has been influential in shaping policy and theory around internet governance, digital rights, and networked social movements.
10. Alex Pentland
Key Contribution: Pentland’s work at MIT focuses on social physics and how data-driven approaches can influence network governance and collective decision-making.
Impact: His research explores how digital data can be used to optimize governance in decentralized networks, particularly in urban planning and smart cities.
These individuals and organizations are at the forefront of research into network governance, each contributing unique insights and approaches to understanding and developing non-hierarchical models.