The World Next Week

More Resources: Why It Matters

Feb 13, 2025

The podcast dives into the extraordinary power of tech giants that rival national economies. Experts discuss how these companies, like Google and SpaceX, are reshaping global dynamics and influencing international relations. Concerns about their dominance lead to questions around regulation and cybersecurity. The conversation also highlights the shifting balance of power from governments to private firms and explores the implications for national security amid rising competition, particularly in contexts like Ukraine's defense against Russia.

36:33

Creator website

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

The partnership between governments and tech companies has evolved, leading to significant innovations but raising concerns over national security and accountability.

The emergence of a 'technopolar order' indicates the growing influence of tech firms in global affairs, potentially reshaping international relations historically dominated by nation-states.

Deep dives

Government and Private Sector Innovations

Governments have historically partnered with private companies to drive innovation, a trend that intensified in the U.S. tech sector from the 1990s onward. This collaboration has led to significant advancements in technology and financial growth, enabling the U.S. to outpace its international competitors. Over time, the focus has shifted from government-directed initiatives like the Manhattan Project to innovations emerging from private entities such as SpaceX and Google. However, this partnership is now causing concern as these companies wield substantial influence over national security and policy, raising questions about their alignment with public interest.

Intro

3min

Shifting Power: Tech Firms and Global Influence

9min

The Unprecedented Power of Tech Giants in Globalization

2min

Tech Power and Geopolitics

21min

The Power of Tech Companies in Globalization

2min

Missing The World Next Week? Host Robert McMahon shares his favorite CFR resources for news and analysis on foreign policy and global affairs. Why It Matters is explaining some of the least-understood issues that are shaping our world. Every two weeks, host Gabrielle Sierra speaks to a diverse lineup of guests with the goal of simplifying a complicated global topic. In this featured episode, Adam Segal, the Ira A. Lipman chair in emerging technologies and national security at CFR, explains how tech titans are acting as unilateral decision makers in international relations, upsetting the balance and structure of global power around the world.

This episode was originally released by Why It Matters on November 13, 2024.

Featured Episode: The New Tech World Order

Find Us