Moving right along and keeping the tempo high
Julia here. By way of introduction, computer appreciator, identity explorer, sometime activist, and Government major.
One theme I hope to focus on is how technology, particularly the internet, allows for new kinds of communities and bonds to form. What are the characteristics of some of these new networks? How do they compare to and interact with older forms of community, including countries?
Before I get to that, though, a quick look at something else from class on September 5th.
Friedman identifies three historical “flattenings” of the world, or revolutions in global interaction. The first involved a geographical expansion and deepening of how countries related to each other. The second was when businesses expanded into global trade relations. The third, which we are witnessing now, is fueled by the ability of individuals to readily interact on a global level.
When trying to determine whether Friedman or Mogler (the dot Communist Manifesto) had a more pertinent view of the process and results of the information revolution, this thought came to mind: If the new mode of production is between individuals, businesses and countries must change to accommodate and deal with individuals. So, you get (not necessarily respectively) both increased IP freedom (Mogler’s unregulated access to free information) and a level playing field (Friedman’s call centers in India and from the home) for all.
