Episode 41: George Gilder and the Birth of Right-Wing Silicon Valley
Nov 12, 2024
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In this engaging discussion, Becca Lewis, a Stanford researcher specializing in right-wing influences in Silicon Valley, delves into the intriguing evolution of George Gilder from an anti-feminist critic to a tech evangelist. She highlights the complex ideological landscape of Silicon Valley leaders, contrasting their progressive public personas with reactionary beliefs. The conversation explores Gilder's entrepreneurial vision during the Reagan era, the emergence of conservative voices in tech, and how this legacy shapes today's culture, especially concerning gender politics.
The podcast explores how George Gilder's right-wing ideologies became intertwined with Silicon Valley's entrepreneurial spirit during the late 20th century.
Becca Lewis critiques the media's surprise at reactionary politics in tech, emphasizing a historical oversight of conservative influences within Silicon Valley.
Contemporary tech figures like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel reflect Gilder's legacy by merging innovation with traditional conservative values and misogyny.
Deep dives
The Rise of Reactionary Politics in Silicon Valley
The podcast addresses the growing influence of reactionary gender politics among prominent figures in Silicon Valley, highlighting how tech entrepreneurs who often present as liberal have adopted surprisingly conservative views on gender and sexuality. Elon Musk is cited as a key example, with reports of him making bizarre propositions about insemination, while the Telegram founder claims to have fathered numerous children. This context leads to a broader discussion on the emergence of right-wing ideologies within tech culture, questioning why such liberal environments can breed reactionary beliefs. The episode introduces guest Becca Lewis, who specializes in exploring this paradox and its historical roots.
George Gilder's Impact on Right-Wing Ideology
Becca Lewis's research focuses on George Gilder, a pivotal figure who introduced right-wing ideology into the Silicon Valley ethos during the 1980s and 1990s. Although Gilder may not be a household name today, he was influential in the early days of the internet, significantly shaping the narrative around tech as a vehicle for conservative values. Initially a moderate Republican, Gilder became a staunch social conservative and anti-feminist, emphasizing the importance of traditional marriage and family structures in his works. His ideas laid the groundwork for a long-standing connection between entrepreneurial spirit and conservative social values that persist in Silicon Valley.
Media Narratives and Misconceptions about Silicon Valley
Lewis critiques the media's tendency to express surprise whenever reactionary politics emerge in Silicon Valley, positing that such views have long been present but often overlooked. She refers to historical warnings about 'techno-fascism' dating back to the 1990s, pointing out that concentrated wealth and male dominance in tech environments can facilitate conservative ideologies. Lewis argues that media narratives have typically focused on the narrative of libertarianism stemming from counterculture movements of the 1960s, neglecting conservative influences. This oversight reveals a broader resistance to recognizing how technology can serve to uphold reactionary societal structures.
The Entrepreneur as a Conservative Hero
Gilder's vision portrayed the entrepreneur as a heroic figure who could restore traditional family values and hierarchical structures through innovation and success in high-tech sectors. He argued that networked computers could help reinforce the family unit by allowing men to work from home, which would subsequently empower women to take on the role of caregivers and educators. This view aligns with a conservative critique of modern society, where feminized forces are blamed for destabilizing family dynamics. Gilder's endorsement of the 'male breadwinner' ideal brought a moral dimension to entrepreneurship and supported a narrative that praised self-made success while sidelining women's agency.
Transformation of Technological Narratives in Recent Years
The conversation links Gilder's ideology to the evolving landscape of Silicon Valley where contemporary figures also grapple with the implications of their power and influence. The podcast notes how the narrative around technology as a symbol of progress intersects with conservative rhetoric, particularly in the era of cryptocurrency and deregulation. Figures like Peter Thiel are highlighted as successors to Gilder's legacy, merging entrepreneurial success with ideological conservatism. As the tech sector matures, the podcast emphasizes the persistent undercurrents of misogyny and traditionalism, suggesting that today's tech entrepreneurs continue to navigate the same complex identity politics forged by early influencers like Gilder.
Stanford researcher Becca Lewis talks Moira and Adrian through the life and influence of George Gilder, who started out as a standard anti-feminist and then reinvented himself as an evangelist for Silicon Valley, supply-side economics ... and also anti-feminism.
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