> I think Graeber would say democracy. And argue that they are
> prefiguring political society, not economic.
Both. They have a miniature economy there. An economy is needs on one side, resources to meet them on the other side, and serious headaches to effectively match the former to the latter. They are groping for processes to prioritize needs, for processes to manage their resources, etc. They have good instincts and all the daunting problems actual rapidly-growing economies face. They sent a populous delegation to the URPE conference, disrupted the schedule of our membership meeting on Sunday. They had a question (I'm paraphrasing):
How do we build a financial accounting system that is both secure, transparent to everybody, and responsive to the priorities of the movement?
I rushed to count restrictions and control variables. Is the matrix invertible? A good bunch of pretty sharp kids spent the day with us going over stuff. My URPE comrades beamed with pride when the kids praised our financial reports and followup discussion. Their level of commitment, the energy, etc. are all high. It's a learning process. They have what it takes to grow. It reminded me of my old Cuban professor, Benito Mata, who once read us a Grandma story about Sandinista kids disabling mines planted by the US in Nicaragua's harbors. "When a person really wants to learn -- he said -- no lousy teacher can get in the way." They want a free university. That's how hungry they are for knowledge, power, true wealth (as opposed to the illth the system excretes).
Late in the afternoon, I gave the most economically inclined among them my spiel on scale. It made me feel good for having reflected on this stuff as of late. Read E. H. Carr's history of the Soviet Union, even from Alec Nove's books (as much as I reject his conclusions and recipes), learn from what others do -- including corporations and your government (there are a few remarkably efficient, under a very narrow definition of efficiency, federal agencies). How do they manage? How do they keep the few that control the money spigots accountable to the rest (a few as well, but some rest), aligned with priorities? As Lenin said, learn how to do business. Then think outside of the box -- do not become the system, overthrow it.
Winter. The enemy's strategy. How to manage the explosive growth in participation without making it climax and fizzle too soon, as perhaps the other side would want. How to build more permanent, yet flexible, structures. How to strengthen the core. What if this? What if that?
A promising beginning. Let's not get cynical. Many more questions than answers. We have plenty of degrees of freedom. Failing is definitely a possibility. Join and share your experience with others.
Keep it going.