Corporate Utopias: The Tech Elite’s Visions and the Global Crises of Democratic Problem-Solving
Abstract
In this article, I argue that the utopian novels of the past have given way to corporate visions. Those who today challenge the dominant structures of power through radical reengineering of systems are tech CEOs and investors. The article examines Soylent Inc., SpaceX, and the Seasteading Institute and argues that their corporate visions, defined here as “corporate utopia,” align their authors with a motley group of utopian thinkers who view national governments as inadequate in solving problems for all of humanity. I argue that the capacity of these corporate utopias to capture the global imagination is indicative of a general dissatisfaction with national governments’ ability to tackle issues like climate change, poverty, and food security. This, I suggest, is currently leading to a concentration of global problem-solving in the hands of tech entrepreneurs and investors who are increasingly able to rally economic and political support across a broad ideological spectrum.
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