OTNS: Mutualism, labor unions and cooperatives (not charity)

Apr 21, 2024

Guest Sara Horowitz, founder of Freelancers Union, discusses building mutualistic organizations, the history of workers' movements, and how crypto can promote solidarity. The podcast explores the shift towards mutualism, the impact of technology on social interactions, and the use of blockchain for resource sharing and collaboration. It also highlights the importance of community building, democratic technology, and fostering change through supportive networks.

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Introduction

00:00 • 2min

Empowering Workers Through Mutualism and Networked Unions

01:55 • 25min

Exploring the Influence of Technology on Social Interactions and Solidarity

27:05 • 5min

Exploring Mutualization and Community Networks for Resource Sharing

31:58 • 6min

Community Experiments and the Role of Philanthropy in Implementing Ideas

37:33 • 5min

Fostering Community for Democratic Technology

42:06 • 11min

Building Communities for Change

53:00 • 9min

We spoke to Sara Horowitz (@Sara_Horowitz), founder of the Freelancers Union and author of the book Mutualism: Building the Next Economy from the ground Up . Sara was also one of our co-conspirators in Zuzalu in Montenegro last year who brought her extensive experience and wisdom from building and supporting worker-focused organizations. We spoke about the practical realities of building mutualistic organizations, the history of how workers' movements did it, and how crypto can build this through solidarity primitives.

Check out a previous episode to learn more about our framework for out network state alternative, coordi-nations.

JOIN THE BLOCKCHAINGOV DISCORD SERVER HERE IF YOU WANT TO TAKE PART IN THE CONTINUED OVERTHROW AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE RISE OF COORDI-NATIONS.

Overthrowing the Network State (OTNS) is a series in collaboration with Blockchaingov where we critique The Network State by Balaji Srinivasan while also pulling out the salvageable parts and concepts in discussion with a variety of guests. You can find the first episode of OTNS where we give our initial criticisms and alternatives here.

Blockchaingov is a 5-year long, transdisciplinary research effort aimed at restoring trust in institutions at the community and global levels, by promoting better on chain and off chain distributed governance practices. Throughout the series, each discussion will include me and a member of Blockchaingov with either a new guest each episode or a discussion between us to tackle various topics from the book.

Send me your questions or comments about the show and I'll read them out sometime.

Support the show

ICYMI I've written a book about, no surprise, blockchains through a left political framework! The title is Blockchain Radicals: How Capitalism Ruined Crypto and How to Fix It and is being published through Repeater Books, the publishing house started by Mark Fisher who’s work influenced me a lot in my thinking.

The book is officially published and you use this linktree to find where you can purchase the book based on your region / country.