IJC#8: Blockchain networks as knowledge commons with Ilia Murtazashvili

Listen to a conversation that Frank van Laerhoven had with Ilia Murtazashvili.

Together with Jennifer Brick Murtazashvili, Martin Weiss, and Michael Madison, Ilia co-authored a recent IJC publication entitled Blockchain networks as knowledge commons.

Block chains are distributed append-only ledgers. The purpose of blockchains is to share resources – that is, knowledge, data and opportunities to use outputs created by networks. Knowledge commons are characterized by (i) the production of knowledge and information via one or more modes of action, (ii) institutions and other formal and informal structures for sharing these knowledge- and information resources, and (iii) governance processes that depend significantly on openness. In their article, Ilia and his colleagues convincingly show the usefulness of approaching block chain networks as knowledge commons as they rely on collectively managed technologies to pool distributed information.

Ilia is affiliated with the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburg. Apart from an interest in block chain and knowledge commons, he is interested in American political development and the challenges of public administration and focuses his research on the relationship governance and legal titling in the developing world. Using the American frontier as an example, he investigates current challenges developing countries face, and how they can improve their prospects for economic development and political stability.

In case you want to learn more about topics akin to the topic discussed in this episode, may we suggest you check out some of the other titles in the International Journal of the Commons that look at technology-dependent and knowledge commons, such as:

• Berge, E., & Kranakis, E. (2011). Technology-dependent commons: The radio spectrum. International Journal of the Commons, 5(1).
• Henrich-Franke, C. (2011). Property Rights on a Cold War battlefield: managing broadcasting transmissions through the Iron Curtain. International Journal of the Commons, 5(1).
• Schweik, C., & English, R. (2013). Preliminary steps toward a general theory of internet-based collective-action in digital information commons: Findings from a study of open source software projects. International Journal of the Commons, 7(2).
• Sen, A., Atkisson, C., & Schweik, C. (2022). Cui Bono: Do open source software incubator policies and procedures benefit the projects or the incubator?. International Journal of the Commons, 16(1).
• Wormbs, N. (2011). Technology-dependent commons: The example of frequency spectrum for broadcasting in Europe in the 1920s. International Journal of the Commons, 5(1).