| om-link"> | | | | few, self-contained, focused (goal-oriented), and |
| New technology is invariably disruptive and | | | | largely localized (aim to function and yield results |
| destabilizing. | | | | locally). |
| Paradigm shifts in science and revolutionary leaps | | | | Consumer technologies are the exact obverse of |
| in technology are frequently coterminous with | | | | their primary counterparts: by design, they |
| political and military upheavals. The dust usually | | | | empower the user, are ubiquitous, cater to the |
| requires three centuries to settle. Such seismic | | | | needs of individuals, are distributed and redundant, |
| waves and tectonic shifts occurred between the | | | | collaborative, emphasize multitasking, and are |
| 12th and 14th centuries AD, again starting with | | | | global. |
| the 15th and ending in the 17th century AD, and, | | | | Science and technology interact with politics and |
| most recently, commencing in the 19th century | | | | the military along two pathways: |
| and still very much unfolding. | | | | (I) Established structures are rarely undermined |
| These quakes portend the emergence of new | | | | by the mere invention or even deployment of a |
| organizing principles and novel threats. Power | | | | new technology. It is the shift from primary |
| shifts from one set of players and agents to | | | | technology to consumer technology that rattles |
| another. And the scope and impact of the | | | | them. Primary technologies are used by interest |
| cataclysm increases until it peaks with the last | | | | groups and power centers to preserve their |
| vestiges of the cycle. | | | | monopoly of resources and the decision-making |
| Thus, in the current round (19th-21st centuries | | | | processes that determine their allocation. Primary |
| AD), polities shifted from Empires to Nation-states | | | | technologies are always in favor of the existing |
| and economies from colonialism-mercantilism to | | | | order and are, therefore, conservative. In |
| capitalism: a new order founded on new systems | | | | contrast, consumer technologies grant erstwhile |
| and principles. Industrialized warfare and | | | | outsiders access to these cherished commodities. |
| networked terrorism emerged as the latest | | | | Consumer technologies are, therefore, by |
| threats. Ochlocracies and democracies supplanted | | | | definition, radical and transformative. |
| the rule of various elites and crowds of laymen | | | | (II) But, the masses are not always content to |
| lay siege to the hitherto unchallenged superiority | | | | await their turn while the elites reap the |
| and leadership of experts. Finally, starting in the | | | | considerable rewards of their first mover status |
| late 19th century, globalization replaced localization | | | | and old-boy-network clubbish advantages. |
| everywhere. | | | | Sometimes the mob demands instant use, or |
| Why this confluence of scientific-technological | | | | even control of primary technologies. Such |
| phase transitions and political-military tumults? | | | | revolutionary spasms "compress" historical |
| There are three possible explanations: | | | | processes and render primary technologies |
| (I) Scientific and technological innovations presage | | | | consumer technologies by dint of the mob's ability |
| political and military realignments, rather as | | | | to access and manipulate them. |
| prequakes forewarn of full-fledged earthquakes. | | | | If so, how come we have known periods of |
| Thus, at the beginning of the twentieth century, | | | | tranquility, prosperity, and flourishing of the arts |
| physical theories, such as Relativity and Quantum | | | | and sciences? Why hasn't history been reduced to |
| Mechanics reflected a gathering political and | | | | a semipternal dogfight between haves and haves |
| military storm in an increasingly uncertain and | | | | not? |
| kaleidoscopic world. Or ... | | | | The answer is: the mitigating effects of consumer |
| (II) Scientific and technological innovations cause | | | | technologies. |
| political and military realignments | | | | Whichever the pathway, once consumer |
| Still, many technologies - from the GPS to the | | | | technology is widespread, it becomes a |
| Internet and from antibiotics to plastics - were | | | | conservative and stabilizing force. Consumers in |
| hatched in state-owned laboratories and numerous | | | | possession of (often expensive) consumer |
| scientific advances were spurred on and financed | | | | technologies have a vested interest in the |
| by the military-industrial complex. Science and | | | | established order: property rights, personal safety, |
| technology in the 20th century seem to be the | | | | the proper functioning of institutions and |
| brainchildren, not the progenitors of the political | | | | producers, and so on. |
| and martial establishments. | | | | Consumers wish to guarantee their access to |
| It seems, therefore, that Scientific and | | | | future generations of consumer technologies as |
| technological innovations move in tandem with | | | | well as their unfettered ability to enjoy and make |
| political and military realignments. Instability, | | | | use of the current crop of gadgets and |
| competition, and conflict are the principles that | | | | knowledge. To do so, leisure time and wealth |
| underlie our political philosophy (liberal democracy), | | | | formation and accumulation are prerequisites. Both |
| economic worldview (Darwinian capitalism), and | | | | are impossible in a chaotic society. Consumers are |
| personal conduct within our anomic societies. It | | | | "tamed", "domesticated", and "pacified" by their |
| would have been shocking had they failed to | | | | ownership of the very technologies that they had |
| permeate our science and technology as well. As | | | | fought to obtain. |
| people change one dimension of their environment | | | | Similarly, developers, creators, inventors, and |
| (let's say, their political system), all other | | | | investors require a peaceful, predictable, just, fair, |
| parameters are instantaneously affected as well. | | | | and functional environment to continue to churn |
| Science, technology, politics, and warfare resonate | | | | out technological innovations. Consumers are |
| and influence each other all the time. Hence the | | | | aware of that. While inclined to "free rider" |
| aforementioned synchronicity. | | | | behavior in the "Commons", most consumers are |
| But, what are the transmission mechanisms | | | | willing to trade hard cash and personal freedom |
| between science-technology and politics-military? | | | | for the future availability of their favorite toys |
| How is a tremor in one sphere communicated to | | | | and content. |
| the other? | | | | Consumer then form an alliance with all other |
| First, we must distinguish between primary and | | | | stakeholders in society to guarantee a prolonged |
| consumer technologies. | | | | period of status quo. Such intermezzos last |
| Primary technologies are purely military, industrial, | | | | centuries until, somehow, the deficiencies and |
| commercial, and large-scale. As primary | | | | imperfections of the system lead to its eventual |
| technologies mature, they are invariably | | | | breakdown and to the eruption of new ideas, new |
| converted into consumer technologies. Primary | | | | disruptive technologies, creative destruction, and |
| technologies are disempowering, inaccessible, | | | | political and military challenges as new players |
| societal (cater to the needs of the society in | | | | enter the scene and old ones refuse to exit |
| which they were developed and within which they | | | | without a fight. |
| are deployed), concentrated in the hands of the | | | | |