In this engaging discussion, Rachel Corbett, a New York Times Magazine contributor, and Jorge Colindres, the technical secretary of the private city Prospera, explore the complexities of this innovative yet controversial project in Honduras. They reveal the city's ambitious aims to attract foreign investment through minimal regulation while grappling with opposition from local communities. The conversation highlights the stark socio-economic disparities, political tensions, and the deeper implications of privatization as a solution to economic challenges, creating a vivid picture of this unique urban experiment.
40:35
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Tour of Prospera
Jorge Colindres, Prospera's technical secretary, showed the author the city's tallest building, overlooking the Caribbean Sea.
The building, Duna Residences, is considered illegal by the Honduran government.
insights INSIGHT
Private Cities Movement
Prospera is part of a growing movement of private cities, often located in developing nations.
These cities offer escape from government oversight and taxation, attracting libertarian thinkers and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Worker Death
A subcontractor working on the Duna Tower died after falling from the 14th floor during a power outage.
This incident raises questions about accountability and worker safety in Prospera's deregulated environment.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Theodor Herzl's "The Jewish State" is a seminal political text outlining the concept of establishing a Jewish state in Palestine. Published in 1896, it served as a foundational document for the Zionist movement, advocating for a Jewish homeland to address antisemitism and provide a safe haven for the Jewish people. The book's proposals sparked intense debate and laid the groundwork for the complex political realities that would unfold in the 20th century. Herzl's vision, while influential, also faced criticism for its potential impact on the existing Palestinian population. The book's enduring legacy lies in its role as a catalyst for the creation of the State of Israel.
The Prince
Niccolo Machiavelli
Written in the early 16th century, 'The Prince' is a realistic instruction guide for new rulers. Machiavelli argues that an effective leader must be skilled in the art of war, sometimes cruel, and willing to use deception and manipulation to achieve political goals. The book is divided into chapters that discuss various types of principalities, how to acquire and maintain power, and the qualities a prince should possess. Machiavelli uses historical examples, including the career of Cesare Borgia, to illustrate his points. The treatise emphasizes the importance of maintaining the goodwill of the people and the stability of the state, even if it means deviating from traditional virtues. 'The Prince' remains a controversial but influential work in modern political philosophy.
Atlas Shrugged
Ayn Rand
Published in 1957, 'Atlas Shrugged' is Ayn Rand's magnum opus and her longest novel. The story is set in a dystopian United States where increasingly burdensome laws and regulations strangle innovation and productivity. The plot follows Dagny Taggart, a railroad executive, and Hank Rearden, a steel magnate, as they struggle against 'looters' who exploit their work. A mysterious figure named John Galt leads a strike of productive individuals, persuading them to abandon their companies and disappear. The novel culminates with Galt's three-hour radio speech explaining his philosophy of Objectivism, which emphasizes rational self-interest, individual rights, and the importance of the human mind. The book explores themes of capitalism, property rights, and the failures of governmental coercion, presenting a provocative vision of a society in collapse and the potential for a new capitalist society based on Galt's principles.
12 Rules for Life
An Antidote to Chaos
Jordan B Peterson
In this book, Jordan B. Peterson offers twelve profound and practical rules for living a meaningful life. He argues that happiness is a fleeting and unpredictable goal, and instead, people should seek meaning as a defense against the suffering inherent in life. The book is divided into chapters, each representing one of the twelve rules, such as 'Stand up straight with your shoulders back,' 'Treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping,' and 'Pursue what is meaningful (not what is expedient).' Peterson draws on examples from his clinical practice, personal life, cutting-edge psychology, philosophy, and ancient myths to provide a guide for personal improvement and coping with adversity.
If Próspera were a normal town, Jorge Colindres, a freshly cologned and shaven lawyer, would be considered its mayor. His title here is “technical secretary.” Looking out over a clearing in the trees in February, he pointed to the small office complex where he works collecting taxes and managing public finances for the city’s 2,000 or so physical residents and e-residents, many of whom have paid a fee for the option of living in Próspera, on the Honduran island of Roatán, or remotely incorporating a business there.
Nearby is a manufacturing plant that is slated to build modular houses along the coast. About a mile in the other direction are some of the city’s businesses: a Bitcoin cafe and education center, a genetics clinic, a scuba shop. A delivery service for food and medical supplies will deploy its drones from this rooftop.
Próspera was built in a semiautonomous jurisdiction known as a ZEDE (a Spanish acronym for Zone for Employment and Economic Development). It is a private, for-profit city, with its own government that courts foreign investors through low taxes and light regulation. Now, the Honduran government wants it gone.
Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
The Daily 
