#OWS and the Formation of Rhizomatic Associations

A lot of ink has been spilled over whether our digital connections pull us together into a global community or push us apart into our own highly specialized tribes. I do not find either to be very convincing- as they mostly fall into the trap of digital dualism. I would rather point to the wide-spread solidarity created by and through the Occupy Wall Street movement and show that as long as the bits keep flowing, we will have the ability to create new kinds of voluntary associations. These new augmented voluntary associations are rhizomatic, that is, they run horizontal instead of vertical, provide multiple points of entry, can mobilize large groups into collective action, or pit them against one-another in partisan confrontation. Whatever the outcome of the Occupation movements, it is important that we recognize the power of these new associational patterns and use them in the most inclusive and productive way possible.

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