Production and governance in hackerspaces: A manifestation of Commons-based peer production in the physical realm?. (September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kostakis, Vasilis; Niaros, Vasilis; Giotitsas, Christos
• Is Part Of: International journal of cultural studies. Volume 18:Number 5(2015:Sep.)
• Page Start: 555
• Page End: 573
• Publication Date: 2015-09
• Subjects: commons -- community governance -- hacker culture -- hackerspaces -- open source -- peer production; Culture -- Periodicals; Mass media -- Periodicals; Popular culture -- Periodicals; 306.05
• DOI: 10.1177/1367877913519310
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1367-8779

Abstract

This article deals with the phenomenon of hackerspaces and sheds light on the relationship of their underlying values, organizational structures and productive processes to those of the online communities of Commons-based peer production projects. While hackerspaces adopt hybrid modes of governance, this article attempts to identify patterns, trends and theory that can frame their production and governance mechanisms. Using a diverse amount of literature and case studies, it is argued that, in many cases, hackerspaces exemplify several aspects of peer production projects' principles and governance mechanisms.