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Future Politics by Jamie Susskind
Apr. 7th, 2019 09:53 pmThe Blurb On The Back:
Politics in the twentieth century was dominated by a single question:
how much of our collective life should be determined by the state, and what should be left to the market and civil society?
Now the debate is different:
to what extent should our lives be directed and controlled by powerful digital systems – and on what terms?
Digital technologies – from artificial intelligence to blockchain, from robotics to virtual reality – are transforming the way we live together. Those who control the most powerful technologies are increasingly able to control the rest of us. As time goes on, these powerful entities – usually big tech firms and the state – will set the limit of our liberty, decreeing what may be done and what is forbidden. Their algorithms will determine vital questions of social justice. In their hands, democracy will flourish or decay.
A landmark work of political theory, Future Politics challenges readers to rethink what it means to be free or equal, what it means to have power or property, and what it means for a political system to be just or democratic. In a time of rapid and relentless changes, it is a book about how we can – and must – regain control.
( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )
The Verdict:
Jamie Susskind is an author, speaker and barrister and in this accessible, thought-provoking and timely book (that has comprehensive footnotes) he sets out the threats and benefits that rapidly advancing technology bring to the political arena and what it means for democracy and society but while the book is strong on explaining the political theory and technology and the issues and options they throw up, it’s light on solutions.
Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.
how much of our collective life should be determined by the state, and what should be left to the market and civil society?
Now the debate is different:
to what extent should our lives be directed and controlled by powerful digital systems – and on what terms?
Digital technologies – from artificial intelligence to blockchain, from robotics to virtual reality – are transforming the way we live together. Those who control the most powerful technologies are increasingly able to control the rest of us. As time goes on, these powerful entities – usually big tech firms and the state – will set the limit of our liberty, decreeing what may be done and what is forbidden. Their algorithms will determine vital questions of social justice. In their hands, democracy will flourish or decay.
A landmark work of political theory, Future Politics challenges readers to rethink what it means to be free or equal, what it means to have power or property, and what it means for a political system to be just or democratic. In a time of rapid and relentless changes, it is a book about how we can – and must – regain control.
( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )
The Verdict:
Jamie Susskind is an author, speaker and barrister and in this accessible, thought-provoking and timely book (that has comprehensive footnotes) he sets out the threats and benefits that rapidly advancing technology bring to the political arena and what it means for democracy and society but while the book is strong on explaining the political theory and technology and the issues and options they throw up, it’s light on solutions.
Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.
