Decentralized Networks: An Evolution of the State
The pace of technology has begun to weigh in on the integrity of state sovereignty at an unprecedented pace. The usual response is fear, followed by blame, but slanderous views of progress will not detract from the momentous movement we find ourselves in. Technology has empowered globalization, and the increasingly decentralized nature of data has led to questions of whether the state can cope with these momentous changes without redefining its boundaries. Those who are slighted towards classic hierarchical structure will see this trend as the destruction of the state, but those of us who learn to adapt will see this as merely an evolutionary step towards cultural hybridity.
Data meltdowns, powerful non-state actors, and increased visibility of world events have led to widespread fear among homogeneous and inflexible nations. The idea that a corporation like Google or Facebook holds more data than the US government is frightening to the old guard. Transnational corporations and other non-state actors have proven for good or ill that they have the power to challenge territorial boundaries. Whether it is Facebook circumventing country specific regulations with regards to data collection, or ISIS creating its own state on the borders of two established countries, these acts of power are seen as dangers to state sovereignty. Likewise, the rise of cryptocurrency and decentralized exchanges that circumvent the established world order and put purchasing power in the hands of organizations and ordinary people are an affront to the establishment and federal regulations. The fact that all these events are publicly available to all parts of the world make the consequences that much more impact.
In the evolutionary cycle, blame follows fear, as the old stalwarts attempt to discredit new ways of thinking. Blochchain is slandered by politicians as a hoax for laundering money. Facebook becomes the hated villain for its use of our data (as we benefit from its otherwise free service). It is understandable that some events are to extreme to accept, but this is human nature, and we will refine our new technologies and ideologies. Global networks that bring us together can be used to better our lives, create transparency, and give alternative solutions to the "American Dream," where you either slave for progress, or waste away in the "developing world." If every new idea were cast aside because it challenged authority, then the US would still be a colony, freedom would have never rang.
One state cannot stand in the way of globalization, and the conservative voices of generations out of touch with the world will not stop technology from spreading. Save a catastrophic meltdown, our hybrid culture of man, nature, machine, and everything in between will slowly decay the idea of the state. As data flows across borders, so too will people and ideas. Concrete walls and barriers will not stop the flow of goods, nor will it stop the inspiration to bring people together. As information becomes decentralized, tangible to all walks of life, the idea of rigid states will be further questioned for maintaining the status quo of hierarchical society. The state has been unable to handle transnational crime, or the spread of ideas, so how will it compete when technology allows transactions of goods and services to happen instantaneously? The world isn't flat, but technology has given us the tools to better navigate the man made contours erected to hold down the masses. The evolution of the state begins at the hands of these very networks that are able to incorporate new ideas, and further decentralize information that will empower us all.
Data meltdowns, powerful non-state actors, and increased visibility of world events have led to widespread fear among homogeneous and inflexible nations. The idea that a corporation like Google or Facebook holds more data than the US government is frightening to the old guard. Transnational corporations and other non-state actors have proven for good or ill that they have the power to challenge territorial boundaries. Whether it is Facebook circumventing country specific regulations with regards to data collection, or ISIS creating its own state on the borders of two established countries, these acts of power are seen as dangers to state sovereignty. Likewise, the rise of cryptocurrency and decentralized exchanges that circumvent the established world order and put purchasing power in the hands of organizations and ordinary people are an affront to the establishment and federal regulations. The fact that all these events are publicly available to all parts of the world make the consequences that much more impact.
In the evolutionary cycle, blame follows fear, as the old stalwarts attempt to discredit new ways of thinking. Blochchain is slandered by politicians as a hoax for laundering money. Facebook becomes the hated villain for its use of our data (as we benefit from its otherwise free service). It is understandable that some events are to extreme to accept, but this is human nature, and we will refine our new technologies and ideologies. Global networks that bring us together can be used to better our lives, create transparency, and give alternative solutions to the "American Dream," where you either slave for progress, or waste away in the "developing world." If every new idea were cast aside because it challenged authority, then the US would still be a colony, freedom would have never rang.
One state cannot stand in the way of globalization, and the conservative voices of generations out of touch with the world will not stop technology from spreading. Save a catastrophic meltdown, our hybrid culture of man, nature, machine, and everything in between will slowly decay the idea of the state. As data flows across borders, so too will people and ideas. Concrete walls and barriers will not stop the flow of goods, nor will it stop the inspiration to bring people together. As information becomes decentralized, tangible to all walks of life, the idea of rigid states will be further questioned for maintaining the status quo of hierarchical society. The state has been unable to handle transnational crime, or the spread of ideas, so how will it compete when technology allows transactions of goods and services to happen instantaneously? The world isn't flat, but technology has given us the tools to better navigate the man made contours erected to hold down the masses. The evolution of the state begins at the hands of these very networks that are able to incorporate new ideas, and further decentralize information that will empower us all.
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