Decentralized Networks for Social Movements: AMC 2015 Liveblog

This was liveblogged at the 2015 Allied Media Conference.

Allen Kwabena Frimpong, Black Lives Matter
Tammy Shapiro, Movement Netlab
Arielle Newton, Black Lives Matter

In 2011, Occupy Wall Street held huge demonstrations in New York’s Zuccotti Park and around the world. But within months, many media outlets had proclaimed that the movement had entirely disappeared. But when Hurricane Sandy hit in 2012, many of the same participants in OWS organized Occupy Sandy to pick up the slack where FEMA fell short. The connections formed by OWS and later tapped to create Occupy Sandy show how decentralized networks can used to quickly organize effective responses.

Tammy likes to say that traditional organizing “takes the temperature” and acts accordingly, while decentralized movements “change the weather.”

Allen introduces some of the properties of “smart” decentralized networks: overlapping clusters, a decentralized core, and a strong periphery. Arielle adds that everyone starts on the periphery, and a big part of the organization’s job is to bring the periphery into the core. She explains that the overlapping clusters are crucial for allowing information to spread and converting weak ties into strong ones. Decentralized networks do have roles and functions, but their “hierarchies” are based on level of commitment.

Tammy adds that decentralized movements often address many issues simultaneously, unlike traditional organizations, which focus on a single issue, sometimes to the detriment of others. Platforms like InterOccupy have been important for enabling decentralized networks, but tools for organizing online networks are still lacking.

The group lists some ingredients of a healthy network. They believe intentional networks have more success because the way a group begins has a big effect on the later culture of the group. To remain healthy, groups need: relationships, infrastructure, network functions, and funding. They list many network functions, such as the “firestarter” who gets the group started and the “DJ” who keeps people excited as time goes on. Decentralized networks are using innovative funding models: rapidly applying small amounts of money, pinpointing major roadblocks, and identifying hubs that can distribute funds usefully.