This article has been written by Majikamliu Koupingbou Ringkangmai pursuing a Diploma in International Data Protection and Privacy Laws from Skill Arbitrage.

This article has been edited and published by Shashwat Kaushik.

Introduction 

Cybercommunism is characterised as a complexity-based theory that draws from computation, algorithms, and information theory. In today’s economy, with the increase of advanced technology and the latest innovations in our economy, our traditional economics is constantly replaced by new economic technology, which opens new possibilities for our systems. Some, e.g., computer science, big data, artificial intelligence, the Internet of things, etc., and cybercommunism promote that such technology, such as planning systems or processing of information resources, should be distributed equally without ownership rights by any individuals and to give their democratic decision making on their consumption of any such information or process.

Understanding cybercommunism

Cyber means ‘relating to or characteristic of information technology, programmes, data networks and computers”. We can also say that cyber refers to technology such as programmes, data, systems, and networks, which is in relation to information technology. Anything relating to the internet, such as, falls under the cyber category. 

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Cyber origin

The term cybernetics was coined by Norbert Wiener (a mathematician) in the late 1940s, which means ‘the study of control systems and communication between people and machines. Cybernetics is derived from the Greek word ‘kubernētēs’, which refers to a pilot or steersman. Cyber is newly based on cybernetics.

Common cyber words

‘Cyber’ is a prefix or adjective for many terms. Below are some terms that have the word ‘cyber’ as a prefix, adjective, or both.

  1. Cyberspace- Cyberspace is an electronic medium  that is used to facilitate online communication. Cyberspace was introduced by William Gibson in 1948 through his book ‘Neuromancer’. It also refers to anything related to the internet and was first used in 1982. 
  1. Cyber attack- A cyber attack is any unwelcome attack launched by any cybercriminals using one or another computer and disabled, stealing data or accessing another computer or destroying information through unauthorised access to computer systems.
  2. Cybercrime- Cybercrime is defined as criminal activity in which a computer network is a tool, target for such criminal activities. Cybercrime can be done against a person, property or the government, like cyberterrorism. Cybercrime started developing at the beginning of 1970s, when criminals regularly committed crimes via telephone lines.
  3. Cyber cafe- A cyber cafe is a type of business that allows people to access through a computer.
  4. Cyber Security- Cyber security refers to the protection of information systems, networks, and programme data that is stored in any technology device. It is also called information technology security because it protects the information stored in any form of technology against any threats. The main aim of cyber security is to ensure data protection from cyber-attacks.
  5. Cyberbullying- Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place with the use of technology. It can take place over digital devices such as social media, cell phones, computers, and gambling platforms. 

Meaning of communism

Communism is a type of government as well as an economic system that advocates for a classless society in which all property and wealth are communally owned by the public rather than by the individual. ‘Communism’ is an umbrella term that encompasses a range of ideologies. Communism, as a theory, has been around since the beginning of humanity. As the idea of communism is of a classless society where wealth and resources available are communally owned, it has existed harmoniously in smaller communities, and on a larger level, communism has far failed to be implemented.

Meaning of cyber communism

Cybercommunism is a social planning system without private property rights over the means of production and operation through information and communication technologies. It is a theoretical concept where advanced information technology is used to manage and allocate resources in a collective and decentralised manner. It seeks to harness the potential of technology to create a more equitable and efficient economic system, focusing on meeting human needs and promoting collective ownership and decision-making.

As we know, cybercommunism promotes collective ownership and decision-making along with the equitable distribution of resources, opportunity, cooperation, mutual support, and well-being of all individuals, which could potentially decrease certain types of bullying. Ultimately, the effectiveness of cybercommunism in decreasing bullying would depend on various factors, such as the implementation of policies, the cultural context, and the psychological dynamics of online interactions.

While cyber communism remains largely a theoretical concept and has not been widely implemented on a large scale, it shares similarities with traditional political economy, such as the emphasis on control and the role of government, and is far from being a complexity-based political economy. However, as it focuses on maximising people’s well-being and proposes an alternative social organisation, it can be considered a form of political economy.

Cybercommunism is a theoretical societal arrangement that combines aspects of communism with the use of information technology. It involves sharing resources and wealth equally through online platforms among its members.

The advantages of cybercommunism are provided as follows:

  1. It eliminates Socioeconomic class struggle by creating a classless society
  2.  It promotes an equal distribution of resources and benefits among societies through online platforms.
  3. It promotes collective ownership and democratic decision-making on their consumption of any such information or process.
  4. It seeks to harness the potential of technology to create a more equitable and efficient economic system, focusing on meeting human needs
  5. It focuses on maximising people’s well-being and proposes an alternative social organisation.
  6. It reduces certain types of bullying, such as economic or class-based bullying.

Criticism of cybercommunism is provided as follows:

  1. It remains largely a theoretical concept and has not been widely implemented on a large scale
  2. It led to the restriction of human rights and poor economic performance 

How cyber communism can help decrease bullying

While cybercommunism may contribute to reducing certain types of bullying, such as economic or class-based bullying, its impact on other forms of bullying might be complex and difficult to predict. Online platforms could facilitate the spread of positive ideologies and encourage collaboration, potentially reducing bullying. However, it’s also possible that the anonymity and detachment typical of online interactions could enable new forms of cyberbullying to emerge.

Cybercommunism seeks to harness the potential of technology to create a more equitable and efficient economic system, focusing on meeting human needs and promoting collective ownership and decision-making.

Advantages of cybercommunism in reducing bullying

Some of the advantages of cybercommunism in reducing bullying are as follows:

Equal distribution of resources

One of the main objectives of cybercommunism is to promote equal distribution of information technology systems or processes of processing through online platforms among its members and such resources are communally owned by the public rather than by the individual. It aims for the resources to be efficiently allocated to all individuals. It ensures that there is an equal distribution of resources and benefits among societies.

Allocate efficient economic system

Cybercommunism is a complex theoretical concept but it still focuses on maximising people’s well-being and promoting an efficient economic system in society. Cybercommunism ensures that technology planning systems or the processing of information resources should be distributed equally.

Promoting collective ownership

Cyber Communists are against the concept of private /Individual individual ownership and promote collective planning/ ownership rights of social planning systems over the means of production operating through information or communication technologies.

Power to make mutual  decision

Cybercommunism believes in making democratic decisions on social planning systems and collective opinion to decide the complexity of technology operating systems used in society. It promotes that every individual has the right to give their opinion to improve our society. If it aims for cooperation, mutual support, and well-being of all individuals, then it could potentially decrease certain types of bullying.

Promotes the well-being of an individual

If cybercommunism promotes collective ownership and decision-making along with the equitable distribution of resources, opportunity, cooperation, mutual support, and well-being of all individuals, then it could potentially decrease certain types of bullying. It eliminates socioeconomic class struggles by creating a classless society.

Cybercommunism and cyberlabour

Cybercommunism and cyberlabour are emerging concepts that explore the intersection of technology, the internet, and the future of work. Cybercommunism is a political and economic system that aims to utilise technology to create a more egalitarian and democratic society. It is based on the idea that the internet and digital technologies can be used to overcome the contradictions and inequalities of capitalism. Cyber labour, on the other hand, refers to the type of work that is performed online or with the use of digital technologies. It includes a wide range of activities, from online freelancing and remote work to digital manufacturing and virtual reality simulations.

Cybercommunism and cyberlabour are closely intertwined. Cybercommunism provides a theoretical framework for understanding the potential of technology to create a more just and equitable society, while cyberlabour provides the practical means to realise this potential. Cybercommunists believe that the internet can be used to create a more democratic and participatory society where workers have more control over their labour and the means of production. They also believe that the internet can be used to create new forms of economic organisation, such as worker cooperatives and decentralised networks.

Cyber labour, in turn, is essential for the realisation of cybercommunism. It is through cyber labour that workers can produce the goods and services that are necessary for a communist society. Cyber labour also allows workers to connect with each other and organise themselves in new ways.

The combination of cybercommunism and cyberlabor has the potential to create a truly revolutionary society. A society where workers are in control of their own labour and the means of production, and where the internet is used to create a more democratic and egalitarian society.

Here are some of the key features of cybercommunism and cyberlabour:

  • Decentralisation: Cybercommunism and cyberlabor are based on the idea of decentralisation. This means that power and decision-making are distributed among a wide range of actors rather than being concentrated in the hands of a few centralised institutions.
  • Participation: Cybercommunism and cyberlabor emphasise the importance of participation. This means that all members of society have the opportunity to participate in the decision-making process and to contribute to the development of the economy.
  • Solidarity: Cybercommunism and cyberlabor are based on the principle of solidarity. This means that workers unite to fight for their common interests and to create a better society for all.
  • Sustainability: Cybercommunism and cyberlabor are committed to sustainability. This means that they aim to create a society that is both economically and environmentally sustainable.

Cybercommunism and cyberlabor are still in their early stages of development, but they have the potential to create a truly revolutionary society. A society that is more democratic, egalitarian, and sustainable.

Conclusion

I would like to conclude that cyber means relating to or characteristic of information technology, programmes, data networks and computers. Cyber refers to technologies such as programmes, data, systems, and networks that are related to information technology.

Communism is a type of government as well as an economic system that advocates for a classless society in which all property and wealth are communally owned by the public rather than by the individual. Communism aims for a classless society where wealth and resources available are communally owned; it has existed harmoniously in smaller communities, but on a larger level, communism has far failed to be implemented.

Cybercommunism is a theoretically complex concept where advanced information technology is used to manage and allocate resources in a collective and decentralised manner.  It aims to promote maximising people’s well-being while also resolving the complexity problem of the use of knowledge in society. It involves sharing resources and wealth equally through online platforms among its members. Cybercommunism promotes that such technology planning systems or processing of information resources should be distributed equally without ownership rights by any individuals and that their democratic decision-making on their consumption of any such information or process. Such contributions help reduce certain types of bullying, such as economic or class-based bullying, and promote collective decision-making.

References

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