Kontakteistas

Kontakteistas is a label used to describe a loose cultural and sociopolitical current that places priority on building and sustaining broad personal networks as a driver of social, economic, and political action. The term blends "kontakte" (contacts or connections, reflecting the emphasis on networks) with the -ista suffix, signaling a group identity or movement.

The concept emerged in internet-based discourse in the 2010s and has since appeared in discussions about networked governance and grassroots organization. It is not tied to a specific organization or ideology, and usage varies by region and author.

Beliefs commonly attributed to kontakteistas include valuing trust-based, diverse social ties; fostering mutual aid and peer support; and leveraging digital tools to coordinate collaborative projects across communities. Proponents emphasize transparency, consent, and inclusive participation in decision making.

Organizationally, kontakteistas tend to operate without formal leadership. Local groups form ad hoc networks, host meetups, contribute to joint initiatives, and use open-source platforms to share information and resources. The approach stresses resilience through connectedness rather than centralized authority.

Reception is mixed. Supporters view kontakteistas as a practical framework for civic engagement in highly connected societies, while critics argue that the concept risks vagueness, potential to encourage performative networking, or to overlook issues of access and inequality in digital participation.

See also: social capital, network theory, mutual aid, digital literacy.