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The Model of Open Cooperativism
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11 August 2026

The Model of Open Cooperativism investigates the potential of open-source technologies and the digital commons in transforming the economic landscape. Drawing from the "Techno- Social Innovation in the Collaborative Economy" research project, the book presents case studies such as Tzoumakers (Greece), Open Food Network (Australia), CoopCycle (France), and Circles UBI (Germany). These case studies illustrate alternative business models, including platform cooperatives and Distributed Autonomous Organizations (DAOs), that challenge traditional capitalist paradigms. Through a blend of theoretical insights and empirical analysis, the book critically examines success factors, challenges, and the broader implications of a commons-oriented post-capitalist transition.
"A quietly radical reframing of the digital economy. Papadimitropoulos offers a coolly intelligent and timely call to reach beyond platform cooperatives toward a broader ecosystem linking cooperative ownership, digital commons, and peer production across the digital stack. A sharp perspective for an AI-driven economy".—Trebor Scholz, The New School, USA.
"The Model of Open Cooperativism represents a cogent mastery of the foundational philosophies of capitalism, postcapitalism, and the commons. Papadimitropoulos moves beyond uncritical advocacy and dismissal by engaging debates across disciplines and grounding theory in empirical examples, positioning open cooperatives as a credible new frontier for institutional and economic experimentation".—Stefan Ivanovski, Cornell University, USA.
"By developing the model of open cooperativism, Papadimitropoulos contributes to a proliferating agenda that envisions alternatives to capitalist ruinations emerging in the cracks of states and markets. The hopeful but politically non-naïve model of open cooperativism reconciles Marxian political economy with liberal values and anarchist suspicion of overcentralized planning".—Markus Sattler, Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography, Germany.
"A breath of fresh air in the age of Tech Broligarchy, this short book skillfully blends the commons, cooperativism, Open Source, and blockchain to offer practical alternatives to an unsustainable status quo. "Open Cooperativism" is no mere academic concept but a challenge to abandon siloed governance and confront climate collapse, economic inequality, and a global legitimacy crisis".—Jerome Warren, University of Cologne, Germany.
"Vangelis presents the framework in detail and offers a clear view of the different approaches to the subject. Most importantly though, Vangelis provides us with rich data from seven case-study initiatives that aim to follow open cooperativism in practice. His field research on contemporary cases is a valuable contribution that succeeds in closing the gap between the real situation on the field and the ongoing academic discourse"—Gregory Tsardanidis, Doctoral Research, CLaSP, Queen Mary University of London, UK, and Member of Open Lab Athens & Sociality Coop, Greece.
"This book invites readers to explore open cooperativism in both theory and practice. Drawing on key literature, clear language, and diverse examples, it opens up a complex field to curious minds eager to translate innovative ideas into real-world change".—Ifigeneia Douvitsa, Saint Mary's University, Canada.
Vangelis Papadimitropoulos is an adjunct lecturer at Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece, and a postdoc researcher at Panteion University, Athens, Greece, specializing in the intersection of epistemology, political theory, digital commons, cooperative economies, and open-source technologies.