It seems like an awkward term to me. "Technocracy" and the related "Technocratic" are more commonly used.

When discussing forms of government, Aristocracy, Democracy, and Oligarchy seem to be the classic terms (If my memory is correct). I think "Technocracy" fits better in the context of these 3 terms.

I also believe there is a positive side to technology - that it doesn't have to automatically turn into a degenerate Technocracy, or be exploited to serve an Oligarchy or Aristocracy.

Technology can be used in the improvement of Democracy - the form I prefer. In many ways, one could argue that technological developments over the ages have undermined Oligarchy and Aristocracy. Democracy is the only form of the 3 that can co-exist with the inventions that keep coming along.

"Technocracy" has long been a term used by the 20th Century occult in tandem with the Illuminati -- see Robert Anton Wilson. Also the surpisingly fascinating alternate-reality "game" Mage makes use of the Technocracy. All of this predates 1997 by about 30 years ..

In another twist, "Technarchy" is the name of a rather infamous track on the "Sounds of Detroit" 7" by Cybersonik (aka Richie Hawtin, John Acquaviva, Dan Bell), Champion 264, released 1990 (original release on +8). The B-Side is "Algorhythm."

Technarchy seems to be a part of cyberpunk discourse .. not surprised if we can track that back to Gibson.

From the wikipedia

Technocracy: Technocracy is a particular political ideology that advocates far-reaching physical, social and administrative reforms based on scientific analyses of the human environment.

The general term technocracy originated in published critiques of the advocacy group, and now generally refers to an elite who governs through use of technology/technological prowess. The situation usually described is one in which the elite are selected through bureaucratic processes on the basis of specialized knowledge rather than through democratic or other processes. The term may be either positive or negative.

---

now that's a very different animal then what I want to get at with Technoarchy. The "cracy" is all about the state being run by technicians while the "archy" is about emergent power structures. Need to do more research, that damn book is $120 bucks and I have no idea if its relevant.

Gary, of course their is a positive side to technology, but it doesn't "just happen". Their is a lot of blind faith that technology will just make some improved form of governance emerge out of the ether. I just don't buy it. Its half assed theories jacked up on excessive optimism and blind faith in technology. To make tech really improve the world its going to take a lot more then that.

tobias, damn, Bell, Hawtin and Acquaviva together on one track, how often did that happen. Must download. I guess the infamy comes from the "Detroit" part?

Need to research the cyperpunk angle, certainly fits the genre, but I's suspect that if Gibson used it, it would turn up a bit more on Google.

Abe,

I never said the positive aspects would be easy.

In addition "Technoarchy" may not be a great choice, because you may effectively describe your idea by using a "degenerate Technocracy". People will know what you are talking about.

You're making a distinction between the state and emergent power structures? The state is often the interface of power structures.

I could be wrong, but you may be going through a lot of effort by pushing a new, unfamiliar word. Perhaps it's more a matter of practical communication (so your ideas may take hold.) Just trying to be constructive. I like your ideas and blog.

Tobias,

Do you have a working XML feed? I received an error when I tried to subscribe to your blog feed.

- Gary

On the new word tip, guess I'm about to find out, right now I'd much rather separate from technocracy completely, rather then modify it.

As for the state vs emergent power structures I think their is a big distinction. The state is not the only power structure out there. Those with power often have a tendency to stratify into a state/law structure, but its not a given and it happens after the emergent stage.

And all criticism is *extremely* welcome, might not always like it but its for the best. I certainly not right all the time and I'd much rather ideas get pushed and tested to the max then be digested unchallenged.

I like the recent comments debunking the 6 degrees theory.

You make a good point that SOME individuals cross borders, but many of us are limited in our spheres. Distance and discrepancy are common.

On power, there can be alternate power structures, but I think there is a historical tendency for emergent power structures to eventually affect the state. Staying completely separate from the affairs of the established government doesn't seem to last long.

Any ideas about the blog feed from Tobias?

tobias' feed works fine for me, but that's just to pump it into my sidebar, not in a reader.

http://www.quadrantcrossing.org/blog/rss.xml

Their is plenty of crossover between emergent power structures and the state, but they still aren't the same thing. Take a look at current conflict between anti government, anti tax libertarian business leaders and Bush's government. There is a great article in the NYT magazine this weekend. They effect they state by making sure the state stays *out* of their spheres of power. Until of course things go bad and then they'd love the state to bail them out...

tobias' feed works fine for me, but that's just to pump it into my sidebar, not in a reader.

http://www.quadrantcrossing.org/blog/rss.xml

Their is plenty of crossover between emergent power structures and the state, but they still aren't the same thing. Take a look at current conflict between anti government, anti tax libertarian business leaders and Bush's government. There is a great article in the NYT magazine this weekend. They effect they state by making sure the state stays *out* of their spheres of power. Until of course things go bad and then they'd love the state to bail them out...

Exactly...that is the great neurosis of the Bush administration. Trying to dismantle government, yet hungry and salivating for the very power the government office gives them. In a sense, they want it both ways, so they can sit comfortably in the middle.

Looking at history, libertarianism has been around for SO LONG - yet nothing has come of it. In my opinion libertarianism is a theoretical abstraction, an attractive thought, but it fails time after time after time. There's a much higher percentage of libertarians where I live, in Arizona, and yet they still don't gain much traction.

The Tobias feed doesn't work in my reader and his email address didn't work.

I look forward to this promised essay. :) If you'd be so kind as to maybe drop me a line when you post it, as I read a LOT of blogs, I'd appreciate it--that way it doesn't get lost in the shuffle.

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DATE: 08/09/2005 09:32:06 PM