My article: “The Free Culture and 15M movements in Spain: Composition, social networks and synergies”
Hello! Hola!
I was developing a research on the Free culture movement in Spain just the months before the 15M/Indignados mobilization in Spain started. In the interviews and my own observations before and after the 15M it became evident the influence of the free culture movement in the raise and mobilization of 15M. So with the data I collected, I analyzed 15M organizational form and the similarities and sources of impact of Free culture movement in the raise of the 15M mobilization.
Recently I received several requests about one of the articles resulting from that research. I got to know that my dear professor Howard Rheingold – which is a reference for me, and whom I admire and feel great gratitude to – mentioned and quoted the article in one of his presentations; which was a big and nice surprise for me, and might explain the increase of interest I am reciving.
The article was published in an special issue on “occupy” of “Social Movement Studies: Journal of Social, Cultural and Political Protest”. The special issue is open access (actually it is the first time the Journal agreed to publish in open access, which was the reason I submitted there), however, the Journal asks to register in order to download the article. It is not easy to find the link to register, so here you could access to it easily.
Fuster Morell, M. (2012) The Free Culture and 15M movements in Spain: Composition, social networks and synergies. Social Movement Studies: Journal of Social, Cultural and Political Protest, DOI:10.1080/14742837.2012.710323
Link to the Journal article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14742837.2012.710323
Key words: Organizational logic; Free Culture Movement; 15 of May mobilization in Spain; new technologies of information and communication; social movements.
Abstract: Spain has also witnessed an emerging wave of social mobilization starting on 15M (May 15, 2011). 15M movement has become the latest and greatest exponent of social network format arranged through the Internet. This article first presents the components of the 15M wave of mobilization. The 15M engaged a complex ecosystem composed of many layers: a new generation of citizens converging with housing and Free Culture Movement (FCM) created a common framework to articulate the action in a social network modality and changed the scene by generating the fire to demonstrate. However, to this first layer was incorporated, primarily in the squares, networks and skills from previous social movements (such as, education, health, alternative consumption, among others), as well as connecting with the previous generations of protesting political liberties from the transition particularly sensitive to oppression – altogether generating a virtual cycle that obtained large social support and engagement (online and off-line) with the mobilizations. Then it presents an analysis of the ways one of 15M layers – the FCM – has influenced the 15M. Our analysis revealed that there are various channels by which the FCM contributed to the genealogy of 15M – with composition, agenda, frame, and, organizational logic. The methodology is based on case studies of both the FCM and 15M between December 2010 and December 2011 in Spain. A qualitative method study – including 25 interviews (structured and unstructured), analysis of documents and audiovisual materials, virtual ethnography, and participative observation – were employed.
Video: I did a presentation at the Berkman center for Internet and society which present some of the data. The presentation is called The Spanish Revolution & the Internet: From Free Culture to Meta-Politics . If you would like to see the video you could see it here.
Comments and suggestions are welcome! Mayo