a16z Podcast Balaji Srinivasan on The Network State
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Nov 15, 2022 
Balaji Srinivasan, the former CTO of Coinbase and author of 'The Network State,' delves into the transformative concept of network states. He explores the evolution of identity in a digital world and contrasts nations with states, questioning how governance might adapt to emerging networks. Srinivasan discusses digital power, collective action through social technologies, and the challenges of traditional regulations in areas like healthcare. He also highlights the moral imperative for new societal structures and the dynamics of immigration in today’s society.
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Nation vs. State
- Nations are groups of people with shared ancestry, culture, and language.
- States are the administrative units that govern them, but they can be misaligned.
The Cloud Continent
- The internet is like a new continent (the cloud continent) where people spend a significant portion of their lives.
- This digital migration will lead to new countries, similar to the discovery of the Americas.
Three Leviathans
- Balaji Srinivasan introduces three Leviathans: God, state, and network, representing dominant forces.
- Each enforces pro-social behavior through different means: divine punishment, state power, or network restrictions.
