Netocracy: The New Power Elite and Life After Capitalism

Rating:
Summary: Are you a Netocrat like me?
Review: As per the subtitle this book describes the rise of the "new power elite" and "life after capitalism". It what must be seen as a profound and groundbreaking work, Bard & Söderqvist demonstrates how "informationalism" is taking over from capitalism. It is already a given fact that the available information dictates which thoughts and actions are possible. A direct conclusion from this is that whomever controls the flow of information will become the new ruling class. No stone is left unturned and the new technology for communication and information will undoubtedly change the preconditions for everything: society, economy and culture.

As Bard & Söderqvist explains, democracy, as we know it is in crises and as example they show how the boundary between politics and gossip is increasingly being erased. As in the last episode of the Dilbert TV series, where Dilbert creates the Internet Voting Network with the vision of brining democracy to the people, it is clear that some political issues are to complicate for the masses to understand so the media grabs any opportunity to vilify the politician's social misbehaviour instead. No wonder voter participation all over the world is down and as often quoted example more people voted in the finals of Big Brother TV series then in the last British election. What we lack today is not information but overview and context.

One of the more controversial assertions in NETOCRACY is that when a taboo has been transgressed in one specific area, it is impossible to maintain this taboo for society in general. It will become quite "natural" to regulate how reproduction should occur. The constant weakening of the nation state will impose insurmountable obstacles for these political efforts when trying to regulate biotechnology and specifically genetic research. In Asia for example there is far less sentimental view of the matter then in the West's strongly Judeo-Christian world.

Information society is controlled by networking, something the metropolitan part of the urban population has conscientiously practised for centuries. Conventional forms of personal relations are dissolving and disappearing: circumstances will determine the form of a relationship. One thing that becomes clear is the now overused statement that change is the only constant. As we are in the transition phase of the new Informational Society so we can become aware of its likely effects on our lives. If we're willing to adapt rather then keep things the way the are and were we should prosper as a society.

I consider myself part of the Netocracy simply because I believe I understand the fundementals behind the Information Society and especially the technology. It's become something I take for granted. Now all I need is to exploit it.

Rating:
Summary: pseudo-intellectual disappointment
Review: I found that the contents of this book didn't even begin to deliver the message as on the flyleaf and from other reviews.

Probably 10% of the contents even made sense, and the rest of it was a wide range of disparate ideas strung together to pad out a book that could say what it had to say in 20 pages.

Rating:
Summary: An intellectual introduction to the connected world
Review: There are hundreds of books available on the new economy, the digital society and e-business. This book is completely different. The publication catched quite some attention in Scandinavia and for good reasons.
Based on a thorough historical perspective, the authors claim the arrival of a new elite after first feudalism and now capitalism. They call this new power elite the Netocrats.
Some critics claim the authors do not provide academic rigour to backup their claims. Indeed, not one reference to related books or articles is presented although the authors name sources of inspiration.
Is this a bad thing? Not at all. The result is a highly readible book as opposed to other books which make you check the references each couple of sentences. This does not mean the book is a "simple" book. Be prepared for an intellectual text compared to the usual management books written by the well-known authors.
The book is a heavy contribution to all the discussions on the impact technology has on the power balance in the next era.
Like me you might not agree with the authors on all issues, at least you read one of the most interesting books of this decade.