The chart is from:
The Narrow Corridor: States, Societies, and the Fate of Liberty
It would be impossible to organize a fair society without a government, but it's not good if a government becomes too powerful and not accountable at all by the population or other entities anymore, it's a balance. In a world where 'big brother' has gotten more control through the surveillance that internet offers, blockchain technology counters that power a bit and adds towards the balance.
If you're looking for something to read or listen to then this book might interest you, it talks precisely about the balance of power in society. The Narrow Corridor: States, Societies, and the Fate of Liberty
The chart is from:
The Narrow Corridor: States, Societies, and the Fate of Liberty
Well, the authors just released a second book: The Narrow Corridor. It's pretty good.
Submission statement:
Daron Acemoglu is a professor of economics in MIT, most famous for his book, co-written with James A. Robinson, "Why Nations Fail".
Surprisingly, he mentioned Hong Kong when interviewed about his next book The Narrow Corridor: States, Societies, and the Fate of Liberty. When asked about the "soft" power of showing people the liberties some nations enjoy, he said:
> Really, what crystallized the demands of the Hong Kong people for greater freedoms and better democracy was this demonstration effect of knowing what was going on in the rest of the world and thus having increasing aspirations. Had it not been for that effect, Hong Kong might be like Tibet or Xinjiang, with nothing to defend whatever rights individuals have except for the fact that it’s a financial hub.
> These people’s demands kept the place going as two systems under one state, as the Chinese like to say. But I think you see that it’s a weak force for the reason that once the political equilibrium changes, and opportunities for the Chinese leadership change and so on, it is not by itself enough to defend those rights. In some sense, this is the tragedy of social media and the globalized world: the demands for rights are very widespread, but the means are not there.
I have read his previous book, and I don't necessarily agree with his opinion, but the above points are definitely something to think about over the weekend.