Rethinking Money, Rebuilding Communities: A Multidimensional Analysis of Crypto and Complementary Currencies


Abstract


In the current scenario of global crisis, our official monetary system's inadequacy to provide solutions to the numerous serious problems affecting our society has become increasingly evident. This has led to the emergence of an astonishing number of projects that aim to rethink money. In order to make sense of these projects, it is necessary to explore the deepest meanings of money, as a multidimensional institution whose concrete nature and functioning are still object of a whole set of unsolved disputes. Under these premises, this article proposes an interdisciplinary reading of crypto and complementary currencies. The goal is twofold: on the one hand, the authors aim to shed light on the conditions which have to be met for the establishment of a sustainable monetary innovation; on the other hand, the article constitutes an attempt to use ongoing experiences as a lens through which to gain new insights into the general phenomenon of money and as a laboratory for exploring the possibility to move towards new socio-economic paradigms.

DOI Code: 10.1285/i20356609v13i1p337

Keywords: Money; Monetary Innovation; Complementary Currencies; Crypto Currencies; Clearing Systems

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Articles published in this Special Issue

Articles published in this special issue:

Amato M. (2020), “The Nature of Money in a Clearing System. From Liquidity to Liquidness”, Partecipazione e conflitto, 13(1): 409-437.

Bazzani G. (2020), “Money as a Tool for Collective Action”, Partecipazione e conflitto, 13(1): 438-461.

Buscema C. (2020), “Geopolitics of Monetary Innovation in the Longue Durée. Financialization, Digitalization and the Crisis of the Global Hegemony”, Partecipazione e conflitto, 13(1): 360-383.

Dagnes J. and L. Storti (2020), “Establishing, or Failing? That Is the (Puzzling) Question. An Attempt to Introduce a Complementary Currency”, Partecipazone e conflitto, 13(1): 540-563.

Doria L. (2020), “The Cybernetic Ethos of Cryptocurrencies: Economic and Social Dimensions”, Partecipazione e conflitto, 13(1): 384-408.

Fama M. and E. Musolino (2020), “Complementary Currencies as a Socio-Technical Innovation. Evidence from a local clearing union in Italy”, Partecipazione e conflitto, 13(1): 462-486.

Gómez G.M. and C. Medina Prado (2020), “The Flexible Institutionalization Process of Puma Currency in Seville, Spain”, Partecipazone e conflitto, 13(1): 514-539.

Ljovkin V.E. and A.O. Ljovkina A.O. (2020), “Bashkir Wörgl: Succesfsful Farm Rescue. Implementing Gesell Money in the Shaimurat Farm, Russia, Partecipazione e conflitto, 13(1): 564-585.

Sartori L. (2020), “The Social Life of Sardex and Liberex: Kin or Acquaintances? A Comparison Between Two Mutual Credit Circuits in Italy”, Partecipazione e conflitto, 13(1): 487-513.


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