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"Technological Feudalism" is the inaugural publication of Kim Dong Publishing House's 2045 Books non-fiction series. |
Technological Feudalism was once selected by The Guardian, Bloomberg News , and the Financial Times as one of the best books of 2024. What made this book so impactful was not its analysis of technological achievements or the development of artificial intelligence.
Yanis Varoufakis chooses an approach that views technology from an economic and power perspective. Starting from a bold argument, the author asserts that capitalism is gradually giving way to a new order that he calls "technological feudalism."
While in feudal societies power was concentrated in the hands of landowners, in the digital age, "land" has been replaced by online platforms, data, and cloud computing infrastructure. Global technology corporations have become the new "lords," controlling the space that billions of people use every day to search for information, shop, communicate, or work.
According to Yanis Varoufakis, human dependence is also changing in form. Instead of depending on land as in feudal societies, people today depend on algorithms, digital ecosystems, and data controlled by a few businesses.
From there, the book raises a series of thought-provoking questions: Are we truly mastering technology? Or is technology subtly shaping our choices, consumer behavior, how we receive information, and even our perceptions?
Through an analysis of the privatization of the Internet, the impact of the 2008 financial crisis, and the rise of technology corporations, the author paints a picture of a new economic order where data becomes the most valuable resource.
More than just an economic study, Technological Feudalism is also a warning about the profound changes in society in the digital age. Alongside the lively debates within academic circles, the book has received many positive reviews from scholars and prestigious publications worldwide .
Philosopher Slavoj Žižek described it as "a book for anyone who wants to understand the chaotic changes currently taking place in the world."
The Washington Post praised Yanis Varoufakis for "combining essays, history, economics, and technology to create an accessible, engaging, and enlightening work." Meanwhile, The Observer (UK) considered the book an explanation of "a turning point in the age," as the world faces a "completely new economic system and a new political power."
Economist Jeffrey Sachs also offered special praise, calling Yanis Varoufakis "the historian of our time," emphasizing his ability to connect economic, political, and technological changes into an accessible yet thought-provoking panorama. These assessments further affirm the book's academic value and relevance, providing readers with a critical perspective on how technology is shaping the contemporary world.
Author Yanis Varoufakis is one of the world's most influential economists. He served as Greece's Finance Minister during the 2015 sovereign debt crisis and is renowned for his insightful critical thinking on global political economy. His previous works, such as *Adults in the Room*, *Talking to My Daughter About the Economy*, and * And the Weak Suffer What They Must?* , have all garnered widespread international attention.
The selection of his work as the inaugural publication for 2045 Books also reflects Kim Dong Publishing House's direction in building a book brand that not only provides knowledge but also inspires critical thinking, helping young people gain a deeper understanding of the ever-changing world and prepare them for the future.
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/lanh-dia-cua-ky-nguyen-so-412033.html
