The inequality of badly-run or corrupt states is boosted by the power of technology – but it’s also easier than ever to destabilise these states, thanks to technology. The question is: which future will prevail?
Here’s the bad news: technology – specifically, surveillance technology – makes it easier to police disaffected populations, and that gives badly run, corrupt states enough stability to get themselves into real trouble.
Here’s the good news: technology – specifically, networked technology – makes it easier for opposition movements to form and mobilise, even under conditions of surveillance, and to topple badly run, corrupt states.
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With enough inequality over enough time, the cherished idiocies of the ruling elites will eventually cause a collapse
As technology pervades, spying becomes cheaper and inequality becomes more stable – but not infinitely stable
The future will see a monotonic increase in the ambitions that loose-knit groups can achieve
Related: Are we about to witness the most unequal societies in history?
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