Talking to Political Scientist Henry Farrell with Max Read
Feb 27, 2025
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Henry Farrell, a political scientist at Johns Hopkins and author of 'Underground Empire,' dives into the complex interplay between tech and politics. He critiques the 'great man theory' dominating Silicon Valley’s ideological landscape, discussing how key texts influence leadership. Farrell unpacks the Pizzagate conspiracy, highlighting social media's role in distorting public perception. He warns against the dangers of micro-targeting in political communication and optimistically navigates the potential futures of society amidst technological upheaval.
The emergence of a Silicon Valley reading canon reflects the intellectual ambitions of tech leaders, shaping their self-identity as world-makers.
Silicon Valley entrepreneurs often selectively adopt fragmented narratives, influenced by figures like Ayn Rand, to justify their actions and aspirations.
Social media distorts perceptions of public opinion, creating a 'deformed democratic public' and undermining meaningful communication in democracy.
Deep dives
The Silicon Valley Reading Canon
The emergence of a Silicon Valley reading canon is highlighted, initiated by figures like Patrick Collison of Stripe. This canon includes a diverse array of books reflecting the dominant intellectual traditions within Silicon Valley, as indicated by a specific list of 43 titles compiling opinions from influential thinkers. Notable books include histories of iconic figures and fictional works, suggesting a fascination with 'great men' and their transformative capabilities despite their flaws. The appeal of these narratives showcases a culture of values that shapes the self-identity of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, as they regard themselves as world-makers tackling immense challenges.
Myths and Ideologies in Silicon Valley
The discussion explores the foundational myths and ideologies embraced by many in Silicon Valley, including the influence of Ayn Rand and similar thinkers. There's an emphasis on how these narratives circulate within the community, shaping the mindset of entrepreneurs who selectively adopt ideas that fit their ambitions. Rather than seeking coherent ideological frameworks, many tech leaders look for justification for their actions and aspirations in a fragmented intellectual landscape, often gravitating towards valorized accounts of entrepreneurship and heroism. This leads to a complex relationship with narratives that both inspire and obscure the realities of societal challenges.
The Influence of Systems Thinking
The impact of systems thinking and game design on Silicon Valley ideologies is discussed, particularly concerning how these frameworks shape perceptions of power and leadership. Books and video games that focus on managing complex systems are acknowledged for contributing to the mindset of tech leaders. This is evident in the way Silicon Valley entrepreneurs approach problem-solving, often conceptualizing their endeavors through the lens of optimization and control. However, this perspective can overlook the complexities and nuances inherent in human systems and societal structures, leading to misguided assumptions about the efficacy of technological solutions.
Deformed Democratic Publics
The concept of deformed democratic publics emphasizes how social media distorts individuals' understanding of collective beliefs and public opinion. Rather than merely spreading misinformation, social media platforms create an environment where users perceive a warped reflection of societal views. This disconnect arises from algorithms that amplify certain perspectives while sidelining others, resulting in a skewed narrative of what the public believes. Such dynamics undermine the foundations of democracy by eroding meaningful communication and understanding among diverse groups within society.
Navigating a Complex Future
The prospects for the future are framed as a combination of instability and possibility, suggesting a landscape that is unpredictable yet rich with potential for new forms of engagement. Concerns over algorithmic totalitarianism are balanced by a belief in the resilience of society against authoritarian control. The nuances and contradictions present in today's political climate may ultimately encourage adaptations that promote healthier democratic participation. Emphasis is placed on fostering dialogue and collaboration across societal divides to navigate this challenging terrain and cultivate a more inclusive public discourse.
This week on our untitled, unofficial, occasional podcast, Max Read of Read Max and I hosted our second guest: political scientist Henry Farrell, professor at Johns Hopkins University and writer of the tech and politics Substack Programmable Mutter, which we both follow with great interest. Farrell, with Abraham Newman, is the author of Underground Empire: How America Weaponized the World Economy.
We had Farrell on to discuss his recent piece for Bloomberg on the “tech canon,” entitled, “Silicon Valley’s Reading List Reveals Its Political Ambitions.” We also wanted to discuss Henry’s newsletter from January: “We're getting the social media crisis wrong: The bigger problem isn't disinformation. It's degraded democratic publics,” a very generative rethink of the often stale discourse around social media. It was a really fun, enlightening, and even strangely optimistic chat that ranged from democratic theory to sci-fi to whether or not we should reasonably fear a techno-totalitarian future. (I’m gonna give a spoiler and tell you now Henry thinks not, just in case you need a little pick me up.)
