Sam Stein and Francis Fukuyama: A Coming Deportation Blitz?

Published in 1968, 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? ' is set in a post-apocalyptic San Francisco after a nuclear war. The story follows Rick Deckard, a bounty hunter tasked with 'retiring' six escaped Nexus-6 androids. The novel delves into profound philosophical questions about the nature of life, empathy, and what defines humanity. It also introduces the concept of Mercerism, a religion that emphasizes empathy and compassion. The book is known for its complex characters, including Deckard's moral dilemmas and the ambiguous line between human and android, which has been a significant influence on science fiction and popular culture, including the film 'Blade Runner'.

In 'Termination Shock', Neal Stephenson depicts a near-future world ravaged by the greenhouse effect, with superstorms, rising sea levels, global flooding, heat waves, and deadly pandemics. The story centers around T.R. Schmidt, a Texas billionaire who implements a solar geoengineering scheme by seeding the atmosphere with sulfur dioxide to cool the planet. However, this plan has uneven effects globally, benefiting some regions while threatening others. The novel follows a diverse cast of characters, including the Queen of the Netherlands and a Canadian-Indian Sikh, as they grapple with the geopolitical and social consequences of this rogue climate fix. The book raises critical questions about the potential solutions and dire risks associated with large-scale climate interventions.

In this book, Francis Fukuyama posits that human history is moving towards a state of idealized harmony through the mechanisms of liberal democracy. He argues that liberal democracy is the final form of human government, driven by two powerful forces: the logic of modern science and the struggle for recognition. Fukuyama draws on the philosophical ideas of Hegel and Kojeve, suggesting that liberal democracy meets the economic and psychological needs of humanity, including the desire for recognition and dignity. The book explores the implications of this thesis, including the potential paradox that the satisfaction of basic needs might lead to a lack of outlets for human striving and recognition.