First published in 1997, The Sovereign Individual: Mastering the Transition to the Information Age written by William Rees-Mogg and James Dale Davidson predicted a seismic shift: that nation-states would lose their grip on citizens, and those who could decipher the "signal in the noise" would disentangle from the old guard with advancements in electronic technology. This book has resonated deeply within libertarian, anarcho-capitalist, and crypto communities. [1]
The authors begin by examining the historical rarity of democratic republics, citing ancient Greece and Rome alongside modern examples. They argue that nation-states, through taxation and the cultivation of unifying ideologies like patriotism and nationalism, are exceptionally efficient at mobilizing violence. This efficiency, however, is not without its costs.
The book forecasts that the advancement of electronic technology will erode the power of nation-states. This decline is attributed to:
Mounting Debt: The industrialization of violence and the evolution of nation-states into welfare states will lead to unsustainable debt.
Information Dissemination: Increased access to information will undermine state propaganda, making it difficult for governments to incentivize citizenship.
Cyber Money: The authors accurately predict the rise of "cyber money," a concept that has found its contemporary manifestation in $BTC and cryptocurrencies.
It's clear why The Sovereign Individual attracts libertarians and anarcho-capitalists. Its advocacy for free markets with a capital "F" aligns perfectly with their ideologies. Furthermore, the prescient prediction of "cyber money" has solidified its status as a foundational text within crypto circles. The book's stark division of society into sovereign individuals and "losers and left behinders" echoes the "normie" dichotomy prevalent on Crypto Twitter.
We are witnessing a potential pushback against the waning power of nation-states, with current geopolitical events showcasing redrawn borders and the futile use of military force. Those in power appear to be playing an outdated game.
While The Sovereign Individual is an insightful read, its stark delineation between the "haves" and "have-nots" feels somewhat cruel. If humanity truly embraced a system that valued "winners" over "losers," we would already be living in such a reality. Our inherent humanity prevents this (but the truth is somewhere closer to the middle). Overall my takeaway is that the tools being deployed on the internet can indeed be used to empower an individual's sovereignty.
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