In this episode, we’ll explore the concept of The Network State with Balaji Srinivasan. As the world becomes more digital, it also becomes more distributed. This is obvious on the individual level – how you order goods, the way you chat with friends, and the news you consume… all from a handheld computer. It’s also becoming more obvious at the company level. The pandemic shook the world into remote work and many companies have decided that maybe work can be done in ways they never imagined. But what about the state – whatever that means? Could the network rival the state?
In this episode we’ll explore what a nation state even is and how it may be challenged by a new Leviathan: the network. We also cover the difference between a nation and a state, how constants become variables, the cloud continent, digital power, your identity stack, calibrating risk, polycentric law, cloud regulations, building fast with atoms, founding vs inheriting, the powerful vs the powerless, and just about everything in between.
Topics Covered:
0:00 - Introduction
2:40 - Nation vs state
15:13 - Constants becoming variables
16:49 - The cloud continent
20:52 - The three leviathans
31:11 - Digital power
38:50 - The identity stack
55:28 - Cloud first, land last
58:08 - Diplomatic recognition
1:04:30 - Root access to land
1:09:35 - Calibrating risk as society
1:19:40 - Regulatory harmonization
1:32:03 - Polycentric law
1:38:54 - Building fast with atoms
1:43:07 - Looking to history
1:46:18 - Founding vs inheriting
1:55:31 - The one commandment
2:23:16 - The powerful vs powerless
2:34:58 - The competition for people
2:40:10 - Historical lines
2:49:13 - v3 of governance
Resources:
Balaji’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/balajis
Balaji’s website: https://balajis.com/
The Network State: https://thenetworkstate.com/
Stay Updated:
- Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z
- Find us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z
- Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/
- Follow our host: https://twitter.com/stephsmithio
Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.
In this episode we’ll explore what a nation state even is and how it may be challenged by a new Leviathan: the network. We also cover the difference between a nation and a state, how constants become variables, the cloud continent, digital power, your identity stack, calibrating risk, polycentric law, cloud regulations, building fast with atoms, founding vs inheriting, the powerful vs the powerless, and just about everything in between.
Topics Covered:
0:00 - Introduction
2:40 - Nation vs state
15:13 - Constants becoming variables
16:49 - The cloud continent
20:52 - The three leviathans
31:11 - Digital power
38:50 - The identity stack
55:28 - Cloud first, land last
58:08 - Diplomatic recognition
1:04:30 - Root access to land
1:09:35 - Calibrating risk as society
1:19:40 - Regulatory harmonization
1:32:03 - Polycentric law
1:38:54 - Building fast with atoms
1:43:07 - Looking to history
1:46:18 - Founding vs inheriting
1:55:31 - The one commandment
2:23:16 - The powerful vs powerless
2:34:58 - The competition for people
2:40:10 - Historical lines
2:49:13 - v3 of governance
Resources:
Balaji’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/balajis
Balaji’s website: https://balajis.com/
The Network State: https://thenetworkstate.com/
Stay Updated:
- Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z
- Find us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z
- Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/
- Follow our host: https://twitter.com/stephsmithio
Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.
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Francisco Gimeno - BC Analyst This is probably one of the best podcast you can't allow to miss out. This is not about crypto's prices, speculation, volatility etc. This is about what is possible with the development of the digital world. One of the outcomes can be the Network State. Imagine a world where Nations States exist to deal with the physical reality of territories and population, but with citizens belonging to Network States, where they have identity, responsibilities, duties, all in the digital realm, and with ties as powerful as those which tie a person-citizen with the State. The Network State goes beyond physical borders, can empower anyone creating a new type of social contract too. Yes, it could be a dystopia if mismanaged, but we hope that ingenuity, creativity will prevail. This is going to become a brave world. Think long term and get ready.