Balaji S. Srinivasan @balajis 1/ One of the most interesting - TopicsExpress



          

Balaji S. Srinivasan @balajis 1/ One of the most interesting things Ive learned/discovered is extent to which the 20th c was the product of centralizing technologies. 2/ Centralized broadcast media (movies, news, radio). Centralized production (factories) of centralized arms (tanks, aircraft, nukes). View Conversation 3/ All run by extremely powerful centralized states. It can well be said that the 20th c was the centralized century. 4/ From a technological determinist standpoint, was difficult to coordinate CA with NY in 1800s, necessitating some degree of independence. 5/ This changed in 20th c. One face could now be broadcast to millions. Cult of personality. Centralized coordination of people. Total war. 6/ One person, even if right, could not stand against many. To disagree with whims of crowd meant death in many countries for many decades. 7/ One result: mid-century was peak power inequality. If #2 guy disagreed openly with emperor (eg Stalin), was done. 8/ So no power base outside emperor to resist him. One thesis: this was upstream cause of mid-century democides. 9/ Tech started decentralizing with late 70s PC, then 1991 internet, and now bitcoin. 21st century may be in many ways opposite of 20th.
Posted on: Sun, 04 May 2014 06:42:11 +0000

Trending Topics



Recently Viewed Topics




© 2015