Cyberchiefs: Autonomy and Authority in Online Tribes

by Mathieu O'Neil

People are inventing new ways of working together on the internet. Decentralised production thrives on weblogs, wikis and free software projects. In Cyberchiefs, Mathieu O'Neil focuses on the regulations of these working relationships. He examines the transformation of leadership and expertise in online networks, and the emergence of innovative forms of participatory politics. What are the costs and benefits of alternatives to hierarchical organisation? Using case studies of online projects or 'tribes' such as the radical Primitivism archive, the Daily Kos political weblog, the Debian free software project, and Wikipedia, O'Neil shows that leaders must support maximum autonomy for participants, and he analyses the tensions generated by this distribution of authority.

Genres: Technology, Sociology

242 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2009

Reviews

[Stevphen Shukaitis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well-written and timely book. It's a very good rejoinder to the seemingly constant revival of the "Californian ideology" and net fetishism that always seems to crop up (and has done so recently). If Alex Galloway's book Protocol showed how the net, far from dispersing power and domination in some magical transformation, rather rendered forms of control into the protocols themselves, this book follows up on that elaborating a micropolitical approach to authority on the net. Or basically, rather than to continue reproducing the net fetishist fantasy story of how digital democracy and collaboration does away with authority and command, O'Neil looks at how power and authority accrues and develops within them. And this is very valuable because wishing away such forms of power does not make them disappear but rather makes them difficult to discuss, confront, or arrange differently. In order to work towards a more egalitarian engagement and relation to digital collaboration one would have to start from an open discussion of how power and authority actually works on the net, which is precisely what this book does.

[Shu Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

O’Neil files a relevant and pioneering chapter on human behavior with Cybercheifs. Using case studies on Daily Kos, the Debian free software project and Wikipedia, O’Neil examines the actions, code, and power structures of ‘online tribes’. He follows the struggles, breakups and clashes that have morphed each of these projects, delineating the motivations and cross purposes of the different tribes with a deft hand, while elevating the conversation to the level of impartial intellectualism. This book is not a casual read and even the well read may find themselves looking up a word or rereading a sentence. O’Neil’s grasp of the English language and his subject is strong and he demands the same of his readers. The journey is worth the effort. Cyberspace is a political, emotional, economical and developmental space that increasingly affects each of us. The power structures behind those spaces matter. O’Neil has done an excellent job summarizing a vast and complex arena into a manageable template for conversation. This book will not be the last word on the subject, but it is an excellent place to start.

[Mark Terry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Finally finished. Interesting concept, but too academic for an enjoyable presentation. Matthieu explores authority in online settings that promised areas of human interaction without authority figures. He found interesting combinations of meritocracies and charismatic leadership structures. Rather dry.

[Zbigniew Łukasiak · Rating 4 out of 5]

A critical analysis of on-line governance forms. Recommended.