This document outlines the Superorganism Federation Protocol, which is designed to facilitate the creation of networks of networks that work together for mutual benefit.
While ideologies and worldviews of separation have fragmented our social, political, and economic landscape, resulting in corporate and ideological capture of value and land, an emerging sense of biomimetic self-organization is rising across diverse groups around the world. Driven by a sense that exponential fragmentation and competition is driving multi-polar traps which threaten the foundation of living systems upon which all human life depends, the self-preservation instinct of the human species has catalyzed profound systemic and perspectival shifts, yet this emerging paradigm has not grounded into practical application. A pluralistic structural approach to self-organization, allowing component parts to retain the sovereignty of members while supporting unified action for mutual benefit, is needed by many actors in the domains of economy, ecology, and governance. The following proposal is an attempt to synthesize multiple bodies of work into a meta-protocol, ie a process by which many diverse groups may apply these principles to create protocols for networks of networks that achieve together what none can achieve on their own. Layering a Universal Organizational Ontology on top of Eleanor Ostrom’s framework for Managing a Commons and emerging blockchain currency innovations for mutual credit systems, the Symbiotic Superorganism Federation Protocol offers a clearly defined method for the formation of coherent, aligned, and mutually beneficial networks of networks.
Mirroring the pattern languages we perceive in living systems, each component of an ecosystem serves a unique function while serving the shared goal of supporting more life. Fungal networks provide metabolic functions to trees. Bees benefit from a flower’s nectar and flowers benefit from the pollination provided by bees. Similarly, aligned organizations can provide synergistic benefits to one another as they fulfill their own needs within a network.
At the heart of a superorganism federation is a sense of shared identity and purpose. Beyond the unique functions and contributions of each member body, the shared purpose of a network transcends the individualized profit motive of each member. Members are still capable of pursuing their own needs and goals, but identifying a uniting purpose allows for alignment beyond agreement of approach. Shared identity should be achieved through a minimum viable alignment charter, simple yet descriptive enough to create a clearly defined membrane or boundary condition. This charter should invoke a transcendent quality that inspires members to engage and maintain their support.
The federation will clearly define the boundaries of the shared resources, ensuring that everyone involved understands what is included and what is not.
The federation will establish clear rules for the use of shared resources, ensuring that everyone involved knows what is expected of them.
The federation will involve all members who are affected by the shared resources in decision-making processes, ensuring that everyone has a voice in the governance of those resources.
The federation will monitor the use of shared resources, ensuring that they are being used in accordance with the established rules.
The federation will establish a system of graduated sanctions for those who violate the established rules, ensuring that everyone is held accountable for their actions.
The federation will establish a system of conflict resolution, ensuring that disputes over the use of shared resources can be resolved quickly and effectively.