TECHNODEMOCRACY AND TECHNOCAPITALISM - ONE POSSIBILITY FOR OUR COMING FUTURE

TECHNODEMOCRACY AND TECHNOCAPITALISM - ONE POSSIBILITY FOR OUR COMING FUTURE

Rahul Ramya

30th Nov. 2023, Patna

Technology is a powerful force that shapes the economy and polity of a society. Throughout history, we have witnessed how different technologies have created new production systems, which have led to changes in the distribution of wealth and power among different groups of people. This pattern can be traced from the Stone Age to the digital age. However, technology is not a static phenomenon. It is constantly evolving and transforming, creating new opportunities and challenges for humanity. During early times when extraction of nature was the only technology we could get Tribal economy and polity, but with the introduction of agriculture surplus yield was possible which led to the emergence of Feudal polity and economy. Then came industrial revolution which could make possible mass production, large scale migration, automated production and fast pace of innovation and dissemination of knowledge and information. This made Democracy possible. Then with the rise of Soft technology the entire production system started undergoing sea changes and hence distribution of power and property are being affected.

Today, we are living in a time of rapid and radical technological change. Some of the key areas of emerging technology are artificial intelligence, green energy, and climate change. These technologies have the potential to revolutionize the way we produce, consume, and interact with each other. They also have the potential to affect the way we govern ourselves and our societies. How will these technologies impact democracy, the form of governance that is widely considered to be the best for human dignity and freedom?

One possible scenario is that these technologies will lead to a new form of governance that I call Technocapitalism and Technodemocracy. In this scenario, the technocrats and capitalists, who are the experts and owners of the cutting-edge technologies, will merge into a single entity that will dominate all other institutions and sectors of society. They will have the power and the resources to shape the world according to their vision and interests. They will also redefine democracy to suit their needs and goals. Democracy will not be abolished, but it will be limited and controlled by the Techno capitalists. Ordinary citizens will have the right to vote, to express their opinions, and to enjoy their basic freedoms, but they will not have the right to rule. The rulers will always be the Technocapitalists, who will claim to have the best knowledge and skills to manage the complex and dynamic challenges of the modern world.

This scenario is not a prediction, but a possibility. It is based on the assumption that technology is the primary determinant of economic and political change, and that the current trends of technological development will continue and intensify in the future. It is also based on the assumption that the Technocapitalists will be able to create and maintain a stable and prosperous society, where the majority of the people will have enough consumption capacity to demand and enjoy the products of cutting-edge technology.