[Short] Ep 3. States vs. Big Tech: A Tug of War ft. Phil Stern

Phil delves into the complex and ever-evolving relationship between state powers and private corporations throughout history, underscoring it as a 'tug of war' or 'ebb and flow'. The conversation highlights significant historical moments, such as the transformation of the East India Company from a trading entity to a governing and military power, to draw parallels with today's tech companies like Microsoft, which have expanded beyond their initial functions. It discusses the idea that this relationship does not follow a linear story of dominance but is marked by constant tensions and shifts in power dynamics. 00:00 Introduction: The Tug of War Between State and Private Corporation00:51 Historical Perspective: The Evolution of State and Corporate Relationships02:09 Post World War II: The Emergence of State-Based Politics02:39 21st Century: The Rise of Non-State Forms of Power03:47 The Constant Relationship Between State and Corporations05:05 Colonial Corporations: From Trade to Governance06:02 Modern Tech Companies: The Functional Expansion06:31 Regulation: The State's Response to Corporate Power----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------In this episode of The Great Tech Game podcast, host Anirudh Suri is joined by Phil Stern, professor of history at Duke University, to dive into the history of colonial corporations such as East India Company and what that might teach us about how the current tug of war between nation-states and big tech firms such as Apple and Google might play out.Stern and Suri together delve into the history of joint stock corporations and trading empires of corporations such as East India Company and others. They explore how these joint stock corporations of the 17th and 18th centuries were critical in the rise of colonial empires, but eventually ran afoul of their patrons and political masters. They discuss how the attempt of the British Crown, for example, to regulate the activities of the East India Company played out, and what lessons that holds for today's attempt by countries like the US, India and Europe to regulate Big Tech firms.About Phil Stern: https://scholars.duke.edu/person/philip.stern/Follow Anirudh here:X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/anirudhsuriLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anirudhsuri/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anirudh_suriFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnirudhSuri.inWebsite: [www.anirudhsuri.com](http://www.anirudhsuri.com/)Book and Podcast: [www.greattechgame.com](http://www.greattechgame.com/)Book Links:Anirudh Suri:The Great Tech Game by Anirudh Suri : https://amzn.eu/d/1Su38My