Future Politics: Living Together in a World Transformed by Tech

Future Politics explores how digital technology will transform politics and society, with powerful digital systems controlling our lives and holding great power. Jamie Susskind calls for a fundamental change in the way we think about politics, describing a world in which certain technologies and platforms hold great power over us. He argues that those who control these technologies will increasingly control us, setting the limits of our liberty, allocating social goods, and sorting us into hierarchies of status and esteem.

Format: Hardback
Length: 544 pages
Publication date: 20 September 2018
Publisher: Oxford University Press

The impact of digital technology on politics and society is a pressing and complex issue that requires careful consideration. In the past century, the great political debate has centered around the balance between state control and market and civil society autonomy. As we move into the future, the question becomes how far our lives should be directed and controlled by powerful digital systems, and on what terms.

Jamie Susskind, in his book "Future Politics," argues that rapid and relentless innovation in a range of technologies, such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and blockchain, will fundamentally transform the way we live together. He calls for a fundamental shift in our understanding of politics, envisioning a world where certain technologies and platforms, and those who control them, hold great power over us.

One of the key concerns raised by Susskind is the collection and use of data. He suggests that powerful digital systems will gather vast amounts of information about our lives, causing us to avoid conduct that is perceived as shameful, sinful, or wrong. These systems will also filter our perception of the world, choosing what we know and shaping what we think, affecting how we feel, and guiding how we act.

Furthermore, Susskind predicts that certain technologies and platforms will be able to force us to behave in certain ways, such as self-driving cars that refuse to drive over the speed limit. Those who control these technologies, typically large tech firms and the state, will increasingly control us. They will set the limits of our liberty, decreeing what we may do and what is forbidden. Their algorithms will resolve vital questions of social justice, allocating social goods and sorting us into hierarchies of status and esteem.

The impact of these developments on democracy is particularly concerning. Susskind argues that those who control these technologies will have the power to shape the future of democracy, either by promoting its flourishing or by causing it to decay. He suggests that the algorithms used by these systems will have the ability to influence public opinion, determine election outcomes, and even undermine the legitimacy of democratic institutions.

In conclusion, the impact of digital technology on politics and society is a complex and multifaceted issue that requires careful consideration. While digital technology has the potential to bring about significant benefits, such as increased efficiency and access to information, it also poses significant risks to our freedom, equality, and democracy. As we move into the future, it is essential that we engage in a robust and informed debate about the role of digital technology in shaping our lives and the future of our society.

Weight: 834g
Dimension: 238 x 171 x 44 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198825616