What Is the Story of Sibernetics in the Soviet Union?

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Sibernetics was initially taboo in the soviet union, and after stan's death, it started to be rehabilitated. Soviet researchers even developed a specific idea of sibernetics that they called economic sibernetICS. Sibernetics became distinctive for trying to craft dynamic planning across long periods of time. Eben: I think one interesting story here is that the story of sibernetic is better known outside of the inglophone west than it is within.

Paris Marx is joined by Benjamin Peters to discuss the proposals for national computer networks in the Soviet Union, the challenges they faced in getting approval, and what lessons they hold for how we think about networks.

Benjamin Peters is the author of “How Not to Network a Nation: The Uneasy History of the Soviet Internet” and the co-editor of “Your Computer Is On Fire.” He’s also the Hazel Rogers Associate Professor at the University of Tulsa and affiliated faculty at Yale Law School. Follow Ben on Twitter as @bjpeters.

Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Follow the podcast (@techwontsaveus) and host Paris Marx (@parismarx) on Twitter, and support the show on Patreon.

Find out more about Harbinger Media Network at harbingermedianetwork.com.

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