Liberal Democracy | Why the Hesitancy? What are the Consequences of Rejection?
Liberal Democracy | Why the Hesitancy? What are the Consequences of Rejection?
July 9, 2023
Vicar Sayeedi
Liberal Democracy is the most advanced form of governance ever conceived and implemented by humankind. It has achieved incomparably superior economic and sociopolitical outcomes whence compared to any other political philosophy known to or implemented by humans in the 12,000-year period since the birth of civilization in Mesopotamia.
So why is it, then, that despite such incontrovertibly superior outcomes for liberal democracy, nearly 75% of humankind still lives under variants of Authoritarianism including electoral autocracy, monarchy, pseudo democracy, secular autocracy or theocracy? Let’s return to this question a bit later in the essay once we’ve had the opportunity to set the stage.
Liberal Democracy is an extremely carefully considered political philosophy. When the Framers of America’s Constitution [ratified in 1789] and Bill of Rights [first ten amendments to the Constitution ratified in 1791] set about developing this nascent nation’s supreme articles of governance, they were determined to begin their work at the earliest point at which we had any written knowledge of human experience with political philosophy and ideology of governance. This requirement for comprehensive rigor took the Framers back 2500 years to the earliest declaration of human rights known at the time, that of the 560 BCE founder of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, Cyrus. The philosophy of Cyrus had been captured by the protégé of Socrates and colleague of Plato, Xenophon in the book, Cyropaedia.
The Framers also considered key learnings from the Judeo-Christian scriptures and traditions, from the Athenian experiment with Democracy [demos - the people and kratia- to rule] [an experiment which cost Socrates his life], the Roman Republic, to Islamic scripture and legal traditions, and finally to the contemporary works of the Enlightenment Philosophers, John Locke [Liberalism] and Charles Montesquieu [Separation of Powers]. It was a comprehensive, formal and rigorous effort which included much debate, and which culminated in a document that remains at the heart of American democracy 232 years following ratification.
So why then, given the undeniable rigor and incontrovertible success in its development and outcomes, does most of the world refuse to adopt a locally adapted variant of Liberal Democracy as their own form of governance? In part it is because establishing Liberal Democracy is extremely difficult whence compared to authoritarian systems of governance. It requires cultural change across the broader society as well as the establishment of many institutions to effectively support governance and this is hard but certainly worthwhile, particularly when the mature liberal democracies of the West are so willing to help.
Another reason liberal democracies are difficult to establish is because for those already holding dynastic positions of power in various forms of settled authoritarian regimes, liberal democracy is very likely to see their grip loosened or broken. In the various forms of authoritarian regimes, families can hold power for generations and build extraordinary wealth whilst the rest of the society remains perennially mired in poverty. Thus, the ruling classes have no incentive to change whilst at the same time the mid-tier mercantilists, proletariat and peasant classes who might want liberal democracy will probably and unfortunately lack the resources necessary to bring about such change.
But what the authoritarian regimes fail to appreciate is that the very same cultural changes and political philosophy which underpins liberal democracy also plays a crucial role in establishing that most desirable and defining characteristic of all developed nations. To be clear the Crown Jewels of all modern developed nations are its national institutional matrix or institutional ecosystem and not their geographical size or population.
These institutional ecosystems include both public and private sector institutions - academic, medical, scientific and technological institutions, industrial organizations, civil society and nongovernmental organizations, professional societies, and so much more. The relationships that are established within institutions and at the points of confluence within the institutional ecosystem result in the exchange of knowledge and know how [best practices applicable across the matrix] as well as ideation which produces new research pathways, discoveries, innovations, interdisciplinary problem solving, high value-added goods and services and so much more.
Consider Japan and Russia as an important illustrative example.
Japan is a liberal democracy with a population of 125M. It has a geographical area of 378K sq km and a $4.2T GDP.
Russia is an Authoritarian state with absolute power consolidated in one individual - its president. It has a population of 147M a geographical area of 17.1M sq km and a GDP of $2.2T.
Both nations have populations with education levels similar to advanced European nations, but Russia’s GDP is about half that of Japan despite being 45x larger in its geographical area and despite having a larger population. Russia’s GDP is largely driven by an extraction economy - drawing agricultural commodities, oil and gas, minerals, etc. from the Earth does not require much in the way of sophisticated institutional ecosystems to function effectively.
But the Japanese economy cannot depend upon its land mass to enable its economy as Russia can. Its tiny island chain does not have the rich resources found across Russia’s extraordinarily large land mass, the largest of any nation in the world. Instead, Japan’s only option is to develop an inter/multi-disciplinary, highly sophisticated institutional ecosystem that provides the infrastructure for ideation, innovation and invention. The Japanese have done this very successfully and there is no question that this was possible due to the underlying culture which enables both Liberal Democracy as well as extremely sophisticated institutional ecosystems.
Specifically, it is the particular attention to the notion of Thumos [from Socratic-Platonic thought] - the desire innate within each of us to be recognized and counted. It is the explicit recognition by the State that we matter which calms and settles each of us as individuals. Additionally, it is the explicit commitment of liberal democracy to address the fissures that occur within society due to naturally occurring diversity - race and ethnicity, religion and sect, tribe and clan, caste and class, culture, language and provincialism, etc. For example, from the US Declaration of Independence we have, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Although such fissures and intolerance remain an issue in liberal democracies despite explicitly being addressed in the American Declaration of Independence [and similarly in the foundational documents and constitutions of all liberal democracies in the West] it is now an endemic condition and thus the resulting problems are manageable. Consequently, Western societies remain relatively peaceful and stable and in this environment institution building can effectively take place. However, in authoritarian societies where no explicit effort has been made to address Thumos or the societal fissures highlighted above, institution building is very difficult - the evidence is clear that an epidemic of intolerance precludes any society’s ability to build a world class institutional ecosystem [“a house divided amongst itself cannot stand.” Mathew 12:25]
In authoritarian societies intolerance leads to dislike. People who dislike one another cannot trust one another and if they cannot trust one another they cannot cooperate with one another. But institution building requires large numbers of individuals to establish highly flexible, large and sophisticated networks of cooperation and an epidemic of intolerance invariably precludes this from happening.
Unfortunately, in an era in which we are facing Climate Change, a dangerous transition from a unipolar to a bipolar world order and also the 4th Industrial Revolution which will bring mass unemployment and confusion as we introduce sophisticated Artificial General Intelligence, Biotechnology and Gene/Germ line editing, for nations trapped in the grips of Authoritarian rule and thus unable to establish institutional ecosystems the future is likely to be extremely challenging.
Vicar Sayeedi is a Computer Scientist and Bell Labs Alumnus, a Lecturer and a Consultant. He is a highly experienced writer and is the author of several books. Vicar’s most recent book is about Artificial Intelligence and is titled, The Génome Affair. Vicar has written over 140 essays and recorded nearly 100 lectures on Artificial Intelligence. His forthcoming book is titled, “Our World in 2050”. The book examines the three major trends reshaping the world today and how they will change our world in the future: the rise of China and the resulting change to the world order, the ubiquity and pervasiveness of Artificial Intelligence and Climate Change.
Vicar has lectured widely to audiences around the world, stretching from Silicon Valley to Singapore. He has recently lectured in New York at the National Hemophilia Foundation about AI & the Life Sciences. He has also lectured in London in the Royal Boroughs of Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster, in Sunnyvale in Silicon Valley, the National Library of Singapore as well as in Düsseldorf [with invitations extended to Amsterdam, Berlin, Cologne, Rome, Stockholm & Vienna] on AI and its implications for individuals and societies. Vicar has lectured at leading companies, as well. Most recently, Vicar has lectured on ‘AI - Implications for Democracy in an Age of Surging Authoritarianism’ at Elmhurst University and at East West University on ‘AI | Implications for Our Future’.
Vicar is most interested in the big questions facing humankind. He is particularly focused on studying at the confluence of the five great disciplines of Human History, Political Science and Thought, International Affairs, Science and Technology. For geopolitical technologists, the symbiosis at this intersection offers a deep understanding and pedagogically important lessons of how advances in human endeavor have influenced and impacted civilization.
Vicar has been writing books, essays and poetry for many years. For the past 30 years, Vicar has worked in the Technology and Pharmaceutical industries. He is currently a Consultant in the Life Sciences Industry and lives in suburban Chicago with his wife and their three grown children.
You can find Vicar’s recent book on AI, The Génome Affair on Amazon at this link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YQ7M9Q7
The most recent episodes of Vicar’s ai & u! Podcast are on YouTube at the following links:
Episode 1 - https://youtu.be/yNYr28jtY_k
What is Artificial Intelligence? What is Human Intelligence?
Episode 2 - https://youtu.be/kAEgDNh1Nwc
How Did We Get Here? Machine Learning, Neural Networks & the AI Lexicon, Exciting AI Agents
Episode 3 - https://youtu.be/3PYCyv1pCgM
Deep Mind - How Powerful is Narrow AI? State Surveillance and Surveillance Capitalism
Episode 4 - https://youtu.be/WvobCMIM_H4
Impact on Societies That Possess Artificial Intelligence Versus Those that Do Not!
Episode 5 - https://youtu.be/4JVpvm4g79g
Surveillance Capitalism, Surveillance State, 4th Industrial Revolution, Bifurcation of Sapiens
Episode 6 - https://youtu.be/e1q2GgcWQok
AI, Blockchain & Quantum Computing - Implications for Global and National Governance
Episode 7 - https://youtu.be/4bDSUvrOdd4
Popular Perceptions of Intelligence, the Seat of Human Intelligence and Implications for AI
Episode 8 - https://youtu.be/3GjHqQZL7Pk
AI - Why Should I care? Plus Exciting Updates from Elon Musk and Neuralink!
Episode 9 - https://youtu.be/enpecqDecC8
AI - Excellence, Innovation & Genius
Episode 10 - https://youtu.be/UsriESlTjdA
Implications for AI as China and the West Decouple
Episode 11 - https://youtu.be/0CpaMb-yw3g
Artificial Intelligence: Ethics, Law & Society
Episode 12 - https://youtu.be/PLzodrLWMq0
AI & Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems
Episode 13 - https://youtu.be/Lm_nrNyJRbA
AI & the Future of Work in Industry 4.0 – the 4th Industrial Revolution
Episode 14 - https://youtu.be/_3E1Mhr_Dt8
Artificial Intelligence and its Implications for Authoritarianism and Democracy
Episode 15 - https://youtu.be/IpMUqHOEd7w
Artificial Intelligence, Consciousness & the Future of Homo Sapiens
Episode 16 - https://youtu.be/mIf7_VMzGKo
AI and its Implications for America's Political Environment
Episode 17 - https://youtu.be/gsMRPnovZGI
Special Episode: Reading From The Génome Affair
Episode 18 - https://youtu.be/UxNxtWDCREM
Artificial Intelligence - Digital Tyranny, Datocracy and the Imitation Game
Episode 19 - https://youtu.be/Db8U0QQWWuY
Does Artificial Intelligence Really Replicate Human Intelligence?
Episode 20 - https://youtu.be/Np18AEq-6DM
AI & Rising Geopolitical Tensions Between China & The West
Episode 21 - https://youtu.be/fOMSvNiixA0
AI & In-vitro Fertilization [IVF]
Episode 22 - https://youtu.be/EQPpRhIV6Kw
AI & Human Intelligence: A Complex Relationship
Episode 23 - https://youtu.be/EAbQ7stY7JQ
AI Upends the World of Structural Biology
Episode 24 - https://youtu.be/Bsb1F8uoBpA
AI & COVID-19: An Extraordinary Contribution
Episode 25 - https://youtu.be/PqL5PCRc8tA
AI, Connectomics & Transhumanism: the Future of Humankind
Episode 26 - https://youtu.be/HI8Zjl8VM8U
Dramatic Upheaval Inside Google's Ethical AI Team
Episode 27 - https://youtu.be/TqWwJYc2GxQ
AI & Cyber Espionage | How Will the Sunburst Attack Affect Our Security?
Episode 28 - https://youtu.be/89BcThqgcfQ
AI & the Rapidly Escalating Threat from Deep Fake Videos
Episode 29 - https://youtu.be/zvOHRMmJNB4
AI, Facial Recognition Technology & The Digital Surveillance State
Episode 30 - https://youtu.be/br4ygfEWdk0
AI & Social Media | The Most Destructive AI We've Ever Seen?
Episode 31 - https://youtu.be/sOy12ii8zwM
The Democratization of AI & The 2021 Maiflower Expedition | Plymouth, England to Plymouth, MA
Episode 32 - https://youtu.be/bixdLL74reE
Sino-American Cold War | A Blessing in Disguise for America?
Episode 33 - https://youtu.be/tTRm312DgMc
AI & the Tyranny of Meritocracy
Episode 34 - https://youtu.be/FpPzC5VP6GM
In the Midst of Chaos and Pandemic | A Big AI Announcement From the Trump Administration
Episode 35 - https://youtu.be/bK3xCBwrG8w
Artificial Super Intelligence – Can We Control It?
Episode 36 - https://youtu.be/Rc60DQ0L86Q
A New America | Hope with a Big Dose of Caution
Episode 37 - https://youtu.be/UBenYYHbYqM
Will AI [Science & Tech] Benefit From a New Cold War with China?
Episode 38 - https://youtu.be/JewJnPywnOU
Will AI Eventually Replace All Other Forms of Government?
Episode 39 - https://youtu.be/ibuJ8vozyqg
Will AI Perpetuate Bias in Employment, Health Systems, Law and Society?
Episode 40 - https://youtu.be/IJYbPfGC-08
AI | Will it be the Bain of Cyber Criminals?
Episode 41 - https://youtu.be/ozrO5_XTYKQ
AI | What Will it Mean for the Future of Work?
Episode 42 - https://youtu.be/kDKapDK-Vb0
AI | A Harbinger for the End of Democracy?
Episode 43 - https://youtu.be/7XeNyE8CA9I
AI & the Life Sciences | Developments in Connectomics & Radiology
Episode 44 - https://youtu.be/mWaPW_UolVo
AI & Geopolitics | Critical Strategic Planning in the Age of China
Episode 45 - https://youtu.be/qOSOc3vJRBk
AI & Humankind | What Might the Future Hold?
Episode 46 - https://youtu.be/atMSV1WAFkg
AI Enabled Surveillance | An Important Tool to Contain Dangerous Personality Traits?
Episode 47 - https://youtu.be/kz7-EDmlGXc
Will AI Favor Authoritarianism or Democracy?
Episode 48 - https://youtu.be/uTvKWQgdOaI
AI | A Key Enabler of Universal Basic Income?
Episode 49 - https://youtu.be/sy48Xqo-3qM
AI & The Future of Government, Industry, Markets &Trade
Episode 50 - https://youtu.be/JU1oGzb5TS0
AI & Surveillance | America’s New Strategy in the Middle East
Episode 51 - https://youtu.be/nOCQjUxLWJY
AI-Enabled Global Government | An Idea Whose Time Has Come?
Episode 52 - https://youtu.be/g1VJqiI3HyE
AI & Healthcare | What Will the Future Look Like? Will it be More Equitable?
Episode 53 - https://youtu.be/ie9KAg_kF7Q
AI & Surveillance | The Ethical Dilemma of Facial Recognition Software
Episode 54 - https://youtu.be/ie9KAg_kF7Q
AI & Regulation | Europe is Leading the Way
Episode 55 - https://youtu.be/l-gcYTZMsm8
AI & Consciousness | Will Machines Soon be Sentient?
Episode 56 - https://youtu.be/-8BaouCn9cs
AI & Regulation | Europe Announces New Rules
Episode 57 - https://youtu.be/243zm7aHImQ
AI & Human Emotion Recognition | Is it Inherently Flawed?
Episode 58 - https://youtu.be/rdXllGj8rbo
AI & Autonomous Vehicles | Where are We Now?
Episode 59 - https://youtu.be/EMbqpN5mbqw
AI & the 4 Little Trees | More on Emotion Recognition
Episode 60 - https://youtu.be/K5wtkj-VTrk
AI & the Colonial Pipeline Attack | Cyber Threats are Growing Rapidly
Episode 61 - https://youtu.be/03KysO3VJgI
AI & the Coronavirus | A Postmortem
Episode 62 - https://youtu.be/7wmSIWgbuQI
AI on the Battlefield | The Conflict in Gaza
Episode 63 - https://youtu.be/a_1AmLJD3lo
AI and Xenophobia | Will We Finally Break the Cycle?
Episode 64 - https://youtu.be/9s-Go1TYK9c
AI, Cyber Attacks & the Future of War | Where are We Headed?
Episode 65 - https://youtu.be/1nKbTMzfpqM
Artificial Intelligence | Humankind’s Final and Greatest Invention
Episode 66 - https://youtu.be/cplR62KTa88
America & the 4th Industrial Revolution | Where do We Go from Here?
Episode 67 - https://youtu.be/RMrqreI-PRw
Artificial Intelligence | [Digital] Life After Death
Episode 68 - https://youtu.be/KzR8NkVdT0Q
Artificial Intelligence | The Fear Factor
Episode 69 - https://youtu.be/BI0HqACc4Ek
Artificial Intelligence | The Trust Factor
Episode 70 - https://youtu.be/nKhqVtQC_NI
Artificial Intelligence | Implications for the Future of Democracy
Episode 71 - https://youtu.be/GKD5hXmnpTU
Artificial Intelligence | Deep Fakes & Pornography
Episode 72 - https://youtu.be/KJdoBm5Kmw8
Artificial Intelligence | Working in the 21st Century
Episode 73 - https://youtu.be/lLY6gF_eeas
AI & Disinformation | Implications for Democracy & Geopolitics
Episode 74 - https://youtu.be/URsauWURj5A
AI, Climate Change & Pandemics | A Case for Global Governance?
Episode 75 - https://youtu.be/cu7xOHpNiO4
Artificial Intelligence | New Year’s Resolutions & Societal Reformation
Episode 76 - https://youtu.be/1-orEsKg5fM
Artificial Intelligence | Meritocracy and the Gathering Storm
Episode 77 - https://youtu.be/jYzyrxhxCJk
AI, Authoritarianism & Democracy | What Does the Future Hold?
Episode 78 – https://youtu.be/G5dlaB8TZJQ
AI & Speciation | Symbiosis and the 4th Industrial Revolution
Episode 79 – https://youtu.be/8pq2ZAxRdcY
AI and Disinformation | Echo Chambers in an Age of Division
Episode 80 – https://youtu.be/bewLnveVpDI
AI & Human Conflict | Objectivism, Tribalism & the Dunning-Kruger Effect
Episode 81 – https://youtu.be/Z5ZvMYuNhLQ
AI, Climate Change & Migration | Sowing the Seeds of Intraplanetary Discord
Episode 82 – https://youtu.be/mP-r_0pS3P8
Artificial Intelligence in 2022 | Where are We Now and What Does the Future Hold?
Episode 83 – https://youtu.be/vYSW-pceOQE
Artificial Intelligence in 2022 | Is Protein Folding Our Most Important Achievement?
Episode 84 – https://youtu.be/IBgF_oyCvpE
Artificial Intelligence & 21st Century Military Doctrine | Tora! Tora! Tora!
Episode 85 – https://youtu.be/sxGeIZSlYYo
Artificial Intelligence & Healthcare | A Revolution in the Making
Episode 86 – https://youtu.be/gARgH5rlCG8
AI & Thermonuclear Fusion | The Ultimate Solution for Climate Change
Episode 87 – https://youtu.be/baWRuYBKgu4
Putin’s Russia | A State of Humiliation
Episode 88 – https://youtu.be/6TP5AFtg-6g
AI & Genomics | Accelerating Gene Therapies
Episode 89 – https://youtu.be/_vgLJEoQFY4
Unipolar, Bipolar & Multipolar Worlds | Implications for Humankind
Episode 90 – https://youtu.be/8S7SDcqKNZ0
AI & Neocolonialism | Datocracy & the Surveillance State
Episode 91 – https://youtu.be/RfEIbPNAALo
AI & the Truman Doctrine | The Merits of Preserving the New World Order
Episode 92 – https://youtu.be/q1ybdNC5MiI
The Apollo Moon Landing | Lessons for Civilization in the Age of AI
Episode 93 – https://youtu.be/r1oc9uU8Ct4
Artificial Intelligence & Sapiens 3.0 | Are We Ready?
Episode 94 – https://youtu.be/OqUfXNwqtDU
Artificial Intelligence & Authoritarianism | What’s the Attraction?
Episode 95 – https://youtu.be/-HfFs-XVnKo
Irrationality and Intolerance | Humankind’s Two Greatest Liabilities in the Age of AI
Episode 96 – https://youtu.be/-ITqhjIe4yU
Sustaining Democracy in the Age of AI
Episode 97 –
Artificial Intelligence | Implications for Our Future
July 9, 2023
Vicar Sayeedi
Liberal Democracy is the most advanced form of governance ever conceived and implemented by humankind. It has achieved incomparably superior economic and sociopolitical outcomes whence compared to any other political philosophy known to or implemented by humans in the 12,000-year period since the birth of civilization in Mesopotamia.
So why is it, then, that despite such incontrovertibly superior outcomes for liberal democracy, nearly 75% of humankind still lives under variants of Authoritarianism including electoral autocracy, monarchy, pseudo democracy, secular autocracy or theocracy? Let’s return to this question a bit later in the essay once we’ve had the opportunity to set the stage.
Liberal Democracy is an extremely carefully considered political philosophy. When the Framers of America’s Constitution [ratified in 1789] and Bill of Rights [first ten amendments to the Constitution ratified in 1791] set about developing this nascent nation’s supreme articles of governance, they were determined to begin their work at the earliest point at which we had any written knowledge of human experience with political philosophy and ideology of governance. This requirement for comprehensive rigor took the Framers back 2500 years to the earliest declaration of human rights known at the time, that of the 560 BCE founder of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, Cyrus. The philosophy of Cyrus had been captured by the protégé of Socrates and colleague of Plato, Xenophon in the book, Cyropaedia.
The Framers also considered key learnings from the Judeo-Christian scriptures and traditions, from the Athenian experiment with Democracy [demos - the people and kratia- to rule] [an experiment which cost Socrates his life], the Roman Republic, to Islamic scripture and legal traditions, and finally to the contemporary works of the Enlightenment Philosophers, John Locke [Liberalism] and Charles Montesquieu [Separation of Powers]. It was a comprehensive, formal and rigorous effort which included much debate, and which culminated in a document that remains at the heart of American democracy 232 years following ratification.
So why then, given the undeniable rigor and incontrovertible success in its development and outcomes, does most of the world refuse to adopt a locally adapted variant of Liberal Democracy as their own form of governance? In part it is because establishing Liberal Democracy is extremely difficult whence compared to authoritarian systems of governance. It requires cultural change across the broader society as well as the establishment of many institutions to effectively support governance and this is hard but certainly worthwhile, particularly when the mature liberal democracies of the West are so willing to help.
Another reason liberal democracies are difficult to establish is because for those already holding dynastic positions of power in various forms of settled authoritarian regimes, liberal democracy is very likely to see their grip loosened or broken. In the various forms of authoritarian regimes, families can hold power for generations and build extraordinary wealth whilst the rest of the society remains perennially mired in poverty. Thus, the ruling classes have no incentive to change whilst at the same time the mid-tier mercantilists, proletariat and peasant classes who might want liberal democracy will probably and unfortunately lack the resources necessary to bring about such change.
But what the authoritarian regimes fail to appreciate is that the very same cultural changes and political philosophy which underpins liberal democracy also plays a crucial role in establishing that most desirable and defining characteristic of all developed nations. To be clear the Crown Jewels of all modern developed nations are its national institutional matrix or institutional ecosystem and not their geographical size or population.
These institutional ecosystems include both public and private sector institutions - academic, medical, scientific and technological institutions, industrial organizations, civil society and nongovernmental organizations, professional societies, and so much more. The relationships that are established within institutions and at the points of confluence within the institutional ecosystem result in the exchange of knowledge and know how [best practices applicable across the matrix] as well as ideation which produces new research pathways, discoveries, innovations, interdisciplinary problem solving, high value-added goods and services and so much more.
Consider Japan and Russia as an important illustrative example.
Japan is a liberal democracy with a population of 125M. It has a geographical area of 378K sq km and a $4.2T GDP.
Russia is an Authoritarian state with absolute power consolidated in one individual - its president. It has a population of 147M a geographical area of 17.1M sq km and a GDP of $2.2T.
Both nations have populations with education levels similar to advanced European nations, but Russia’s GDP is about half that of Japan despite being 45x larger in its geographical area and despite having a larger population. Russia’s GDP is largely driven by an extraction economy - drawing agricultural commodities, oil and gas, minerals, etc. from the Earth does not require much in the way of sophisticated institutional ecosystems to function effectively.
But the Japanese economy cannot depend upon its land mass to enable its economy as Russia can. Its tiny island chain does not have the rich resources found across Russia’s extraordinarily large land mass, the largest of any nation in the world. Instead, Japan’s only option is to develop an inter/multi-disciplinary, highly sophisticated institutional ecosystem that provides the infrastructure for ideation, innovation and invention. The Japanese have done this very successfully and there is no question that this was possible due to the underlying culture which enables both Liberal Democracy as well as extremely sophisticated institutional ecosystems.
Specifically, it is the particular attention to the notion of Thumos [from Socratic-Platonic thought] - the desire innate within each of us to be recognized and counted. It is the explicit recognition by the State that we matter which calms and settles each of us as individuals. Additionally, it is the explicit commitment of liberal democracy to address the fissures that occur within society due to naturally occurring diversity - race and ethnicity, religion and sect, tribe and clan, caste and class, culture, language and provincialism, etc. For example, from the US Declaration of Independence we have, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Although such fissures and intolerance remain an issue in liberal democracies despite explicitly being addressed in the American Declaration of Independence [and similarly in the foundational documents and constitutions of all liberal democracies in the West] it is now an endemic condition and thus the resulting problems are manageable. Consequently, Western societies remain relatively peaceful and stable and in this environment institution building can effectively take place. However, in authoritarian societies where no explicit effort has been made to address Thumos or the societal fissures highlighted above, institution building is very difficult - the evidence is clear that an epidemic of intolerance precludes any society’s ability to build a world class institutional ecosystem [“a house divided amongst itself cannot stand.” Mathew 12:25]
In authoritarian societies intolerance leads to dislike. People who dislike one another cannot trust one another and if they cannot trust one another they cannot cooperate with one another. But institution building requires large numbers of individuals to establish highly flexible, large and sophisticated networks of cooperation and an epidemic of intolerance invariably precludes this from happening.
Unfortunately, in an era in which we are facing Climate Change, a dangerous transition from a unipolar to a bipolar world order and also the 4th Industrial Revolution which will bring mass unemployment and confusion as we introduce sophisticated Artificial General Intelligence, Biotechnology and Gene/Germ line editing, for nations trapped in the grips of Authoritarian rule and thus unable to establish institutional ecosystems the future is likely to be extremely challenging.
Vicar Sayeedi is a Computer Scientist and Bell Labs Alumnus, a Lecturer and a Consultant. He is a highly experienced writer and is the author of several books. Vicar’s most recent book is about Artificial Intelligence and is titled, The Génome Affair. Vicar has written over 140 essays and recorded nearly 100 lectures on Artificial Intelligence. His forthcoming book is titled, “Our World in 2050”. The book examines the three major trends reshaping the world today and how they will change our world in the future: the rise of China and the resulting change to the world order, the ubiquity and pervasiveness of Artificial Intelligence and Climate Change.
Vicar has lectured widely to audiences around the world, stretching from Silicon Valley to Singapore. He has recently lectured in New York at the National Hemophilia Foundation about AI & the Life Sciences. He has also lectured in London in the Royal Boroughs of Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster, in Sunnyvale in Silicon Valley, the National Library of Singapore as well as in Düsseldorf [with invitations extended to Amsterdam, Berlin, Cologne, Rome, Stockholm & Vienna] on AI and its implications for individuals and societies. Vicar has lectured at leading companies, as well. Most recently, Vicar has lectured on ‘AI - Implications for Democracy in an Age of Surging Authoritarianism’ at Elmhurst University and at East West University on ‘AI | Implications for Our Future’.
Vicar is most interested in the big questions facing humankind. He is particularly focused on studying at the confluence of the five great disciplines of Human History, Political Science and Thought, International Affairs, Science and Technology. For geopolitical technologists, the symbiosis at this intersection offers a deep understanding and pedagogically important lessons of how advances in human endeavor have influenced and impacted civilization.
Vicar has been writing books, essays and poetry for many years. For the past 30 years, Vicar has worked in the Technology and Pharmaceutical industries. He is currently a Consultant in the Life Sciences Industry and lives in suburban Chicago with his wife and their three grown children.
You can find Vicar’s recent book on AI, The Génome Affair on Amazon at this link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YQ7M9Q7
The most recent episodes of Vicar’s ai & u! Podcast are on YouTube at the following links:
Episode 1 - https://youtu.be/yNYr28jtY_k
What is Artificial Intelligence? What is Human Intelligence?
Episode 2 - https://youtu.be/kAEgDNh1Nwc
How Did We Get Here? Machine Learning, Neural Networks & the AI Lexicon, Exciting AI Agents
Episode 3 - https://youtu.be/3PYCyv1pCgM
Deep Mind - How Powerful is Narrow AI? State Surveillance and Surveillance Capitalism
Episode 4 - https://youtu.be/WvobCMIM_H4
Impact on Societies That Possess Artificial Intelligence Versus Those that Do Not!
Episode 5 - https://youtu.be/4JVpvm4g79g
Surveillance Capitalism, Surveillance State, 4th Industrial Revolution, Bifurcation of Sapiens
Episode 6 - https://youtu.be/e1q2GgcWQok
AI, Blockchain & Quantum Computing - Implications for Global and National Governance
Episode 7 - https://youtu.be/4bDSUvrOdd4
Popular Perceptions of Intelligence, the Seat of Human Intelligence and Implications for AI
Episode 8 - https://youtu.be/3GjHqQZL7Pk
AI - Why Should I care? Plus Exciting Updates from Elon Musk and Neuralink!
Episode 9 - https://youtu.be/enpecqDecC8
AI - Excellence, Innovation & Genius
Episode 10 - https://youtu.be/UsriESlTjdA
Implications for AI as China and the West Decouple
Episode 11 - https://youtu.be/0CpaMb-yw3g
Artificial Intelligence: Ethics, Law & Society
Episode 12 - https://youtu.be/PLzodrLWMq0
AI & Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems
Episode 13 - https://youtu.be/Lm_nrNyJRbA
AI & the Future of Work in Industry 4.0 – the 4th Industrial Revolution
Episode 14 - https://youtu.be/_3E1Mhr_Dt8
Artificial Intelligence and its Implications for Authoritarianism and Democracy
Episode 15 - https://youtu.be/IpMUqHOEd7w
Artificial Intelligence, Consciousness & the Future of Homo Sapiens
Episode 16 - https://youtu.be/mIf7_VMzGKo
AI and its Implications for America's Political Environment
Episode 17 - https://youtu.be/gsMRPnovZGI
Special Episode: Reading From The Génome Affair
Episode 18 - https://youtu.be/UxNxtWDCREM
Artificial Intelligence - Digital Tyranny, Datocracy and the Imitation Game
Episode 19 - https://youtu.be/Db8U0QQWWuY
Does Artificial Intelligence Really Replicate Human Intelligence?
Episode 20 - https://youtu.be/Np18AEq-6DM
AI & Rising Geopolitical Tensions Between China & The West
Episode 21 - https://youtu.be/fOMSvNiixA0
AI & In-vitro Fertilization [IVF]
Episode 22 - https://youtu.be/EQPpRhIV6Kw
AI & Human Intelligence: A Complex Relationship
Episode 23 - https://youtu.be/EAbQ7stY7JQ
AI Upends the World of Structural Biology
Episode 24 - https://youtu.be/Bsb1F8uoBpA
AI & COVID-19: An Extraordinary Contribution
Episode 25 - https://youtu.be/PqL5PCRc8tA
AI, Connectomics & Transhumanism: the Future of Humankind
Episode 26 - https://youtu.be/HI8Zjl8VM8U
Dramatic Upheaval Inside Google's Ethical AI Team
Episode 27 - https://youtu.be/TqWwJYc2GxQ
AI & Cyber Espionage | How Will the Sunburst Attack Affect Our Security?
Episode 28 - https://youtu.be/89BcThqgcfQ
AI & the Rapidly Escalating Threat from Deep Fake Videos
Episode 29 - https://youtu.be/zvOHRMmJNB4
AI, Facial Recognition Technology & The Digital Surveillance State
Episode 30 - https://youtu.be/br4ygfEWdk0
AI & Social Media | The Most Destructive AI We've Ever Seen?
Episode 31 - https://youtu.be/sOy12ii8zwM
The Democratization of AI & The 2021 Maiflower Expedition | Plymouth, England to Plymouth, MA
Episode 32 - https://youtu.be/bixdLL74reE
Sino-American Cold War | A Blessing in Disguise for America?
Episode 33 - https://youtu.be/tTRm312DgMc
AI & the Tyranny of Meritocracy
Episode 34 - https://youtu.be/FpPzC5VP6GM
In the Midst of Chaos and Pandemic | A Big AI Announcement From the Trump Administration
Episode 35 - https://youtu.be/bK3xCBwrG8w
Artificial Super Intelligence – Can We Control It?
Episode 36 - https://youtu.be/Rc60DQ0L86Q
A New America | Hope with a Big Dose of Caution
Episode 37 - https://youtu.be/UBenYYHbYqM
Will AI [Science & Tech] Benefit From a New Cold War with China?
Episode 38 - https://youtu.be/JewJnPywnOU
Will AI Eventually Replace All Other Forms of Government?
Episode 39 - https://youtu.be/ibuJ8vozyqg
Will AI Perpetuate Bias in Employment, Health Systems, Law and Society?
Episode 40 - https://youtu.be/IJYbPfGC-08
AI | Will it be the Bain of Cyber Criminals?
Episode 41 - https://youtu.be/ozrO5_XTYKQ
AI | What Will it Mean for the Future of Work?
Episode 42 - https://youtu.be/kDKapDK-Vb0
AI | A Harbinger for the End of Democracy?
Episode 43 - https://youtu.be/7XeNyE8CA9I
AI & the Life Sciences | Developments in Connectomics & Radiology
Episode 44 - https://youtu.be/mWaPW_UolVo
AI & Geopolitics | Critical Strategic Planning in the Age of China
Episode 45 - https://youtu.be/qOSOc3vJRBk
AI & Humankind | What Might the Future Hold?
Episode 46 - https://youtu.be/atMSV1WAFkg
AI Enabled Surveillance | An Important Tool to Contain Dangerous Personality Traits?
Episode 47 - https://youtu.be/kz7-EDmlGXc
Will AI Favor Authoritarianism or Democracy?
Episode 48 - https://youtu.be/uTvKWQgdOaI
AI | A Key Enabler of Universal Basic Income?
Episode 49 - https://youtu.be/sy48Xqo-3qM
AI & The Future of Government, Industry, Markets &Trade
Episode 50 - https://youtu.be/JU1oGzb5TS0
AI & Surveillance | America’s New Strategy in the Middle East
Episode 51 - https://youtu.be/nOCQjUxLWJY
AI-Enabled Global Government | An Idea Whose Time Has Come?
Episode 52 - https://youtu.be/g1VJqiI3HyE
AI & Healthcare | What Will the Future Look Like? Will it be More Equitable?
Episode 53 - https://youtu.be/ie9KAg_kF7Q
AI & Surveillance | The Ethical Dilemma of Facial Recognition Software
Episode 54 - https://youtu.be/ie9KAg_kF7Q
AI & Regulation | Europe is Leading the Way
Episode 55 - https://youtu.be/l-gcYTZMsm8
AI & Consciousness | Will Machines Soon be Sentient?
Episode 56 - https://youtu.be/-8BaouCn9cs
AI & Regulation | Europe Announces New Rules
Episode 57 - https://youtu.be/243zm7aHImQ
AI & Human Emotion Recognition | Is it Inherently Flawed?
Episode 58 - https://youtu.be/rdXllGj8rbo
AI & Autonomous Vehicles | Where are We Now?
Episode 59 - https://youtu.be/EMbqpN5mbqw
AI & the 4 Little Trees | More on Emotion Recognition
Episode 60 - https://youtu.be/K5wtkj-VTrk
AI & the Colonial Pipeline Attack | Cyber Threats are Growing Rapidly
Episode 61 - https://youtu.be/03KysO3VJgI
AI & the Coronavirus | A Postmortem
Episode 62 - https://youtu.be/7wmSIWgbuQI
AI on the Battlefield | The Conflict in Gaza
Episode 63 - https://youtu.be/a_1AmLJD3lo
AI and Xenophobia | Will We Finally Break the Cycle?
Episode 64 - https://youtu.be/9s-Go1TYK9c
AI, Cyber Attacks & the Future of War | Where are We Headed?
Episode 65 - https://youtu.be/1nKbTMzfpqM
Artificial Intelligence | Humankind’s Final and Greatest Invention
Episode 66 - https://youtu.be/cplR62KTa88
America & the 4th Industrial Revolution | Where do We Go from Here?
Episode 67 - https://youtu.be/RMrqreI-PRw
Artificial Intelligence | [Digital] Life After Death
Episode 68 - https://youtu.be/KzR8NkVdT0Q
Artificial Intelligence | The Fear Factor
Episode 69 - https://youtu.be/BI0HqACc4Ek
Artificial Intelligence | The Trust Factor
Episode 70 - https://youtu.be/nKhqVtQC_NI
Artificial Intelligence | Implications for the Future of Democracy
Episode 71 - https://youtu.be/GKD5hXmnpTU
Artificial Intelligence | Deep Fakes & Pornography
Episode 72 - https://youtu.be/KJdoBm5Kmw8
Artificial Intelligence | Working in the 21st Century
Episode 73 - https://youtu.be/lLY6gF_eeas
AI & Disinformation | Implications for Democracy & Geopolitics
Episode 74 - https://youtu.be/URsauWURj5A
AI, Climate Change & Pandemics | A Case for Global Governance?
Episode 75 - https://youtu.be/cu7xOHpNiO4
Artificial Intelligence | New Year’s Resolutions & Societal Reformation
Episode 76 - https://youtu.be/1-orEsKg5fM
Artificial Intelligence | Meritocracy and the Gathering Storm
Episode 77 - https://youtu.be/jYzyrxhxCJk
AI, Authoritarianism & Democracy | What Does the Future Hold?
Episode 78 – https://youtu.be/G5dlaB8TZJQ
AI & Speciation | Symbiosis and the 4th Industrial Revolution
Episode 79 – https://youtu.be/8pq2ZAxRdcY
AI and Disinformation | Echo Chambers in an Age of Division
Episode 80 – https://youtu.be/bewLnveVpDI
AI & Human Conflict | Objectivism, Tribalism & the Dunning-Kruger Effect
Episode 81 – https://youtu.be/Z5ZvMYuNhLQ
AI, Climate Change & Migration | Sowing the Seeds of Intraplanetary Discord
Episode 82 – https://youtu.be/mP-r_0pS3P8
Artificial Intelligence in 2022 | Where are We Now and What Does the Future Hold?
Episode 83 – https://youtu.be/vYSW-pceOQE
Artificial Intelligence in 2022 | Is Protein Folding Our Most Important Achievement?
Episode 84 – https://youtu.be/IBgF_oyCvpE
Artificial Intelligence & 21st Century Military Doctrine | Tora! Tora! Tora!
Episode 85 – https://youtu.be/sxGeIZSlYYo
Artificial Intelligence & Healthcare | A Revolution in the Making
Episode 86 – https://youtu.be/gARgH5rlCG8
AI & Thermonuclear Fusion | The Ultimate Solution for Climate Change
Episode 87 – https://youtu.be/baWRuYBKgu4
Putin’s Russia | A State of Humiliation
Episode 88 – https://youtu.be/6TP5AFtg-6g
AI & Genomics | Accelerating Gene Therapies
Episode 89 – https://youtu.be/_vgLJEoQFY4
Unipolar, Bipolar & Multipolar Worlds | Implications for Humankind
Episode 90 – https://youtu.be/8S7SDcqKNZ0
AI & Neocolonialism | Datocracy & the Surveillance State
Episode 91 – https://youtu.be/RfEIbPNAALo
AI & the Truman Doctrine | The Merits of Preserving the New World Order
Episode 92 – https://youtu.be/q1ybdNC5MiI
The Apollo Moon Landing | Lessons for Civilization in the Age of AI
Episode 93 – https://youtu.be/r1oc9uU8Ct4
Artificial Intelligence & Sapiens 3.0 | Are We Ready?
Episode 94 – https://youtu.be/OqUfXNwqtDU
Artificial Intelligence & Authoritarianism | What’s the Attraction?
Episode 95 – https://youtu.be/-HfFs-XVnKo
Irrationality and Intolerance | Humankind’s Two Greatest Liabilities in the Age of AI
Episode 96 – https://youtu.be/-ITqhjIe4yU
Sustaining Democracy in the Age of AI
Episode 97 –
Artificial Intelligence | Implications for Our Future
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