How is commons-based peer production governed over the internet? Based on the recent literature and on work in progress on Wikipedia I will discuss issues related to the governance of social production in a virtual environment. Wikipedia shows a complex governance regime that must balance between the two opposing requirements of open participation, mobilization and accessibility on the one hand and, on the other hand, quality control and large-scale system coordination and maintenance. Yet, despite the worldwide popularity of the Wikipedia phenomenon, the questions: Who writes Wikipedia? Who rules Wikipedia, and how? are still controversial and unsettled. Recent evolutionary trends in Wikipedia seem to indicate that governance is assuming a hybrid character, equally relying on community-based norms, hierarchy, and technology as combined modes that help to manage not only its enormous and ever changing information content, but also the increasing complexity of social relationships and business transactions among the users. The Wikipedia example may give us interesting insights in the broader issues of governance in the internet-based environment.

The talk will keep an exploratory, enquiring character. Rather than offering definite answers I will raise questions for collective discussion in search of viable paths of research.