Part 7/15:
Institutional Power and the Internet's Double-Edged Sword
The conversation transitions into geopolitics, focusing on the evolving power of institutions and technology. They debate whether the internet will become a tool for decentralization and localism reminiscent of medieval Europe or whether it will be tightly controlled by authoritarian regimes, likened to China’s social control model.
Richard notes that institutions are attempting to rapidly consolidate power, fearing technological and demographic changes that threaten their dominance. Sam adds that the internet could serve as a democratizing force, enabling transnational communities to organize without centralized government control, echoing medieval city-states or modern digital enclaves where like-minded people gather remotely.