The Great Tech Game Podcast: Geopolitics, Technology, Business and Global Affairs, with Anirudh Suri

Full Episode Link: https://youtu.be/7CL_8jnKBRk?si=S3dgqoeCM6-8ef-p The conversation between Anirudh and Daniel discusses the transition of colonial empire methods and justifications from the British Raj to the United States, focusing on the language and ideologies used to justify expansionist tendencies. It reflects on how empires were once sources of pride and the belief in spreading civilization as a justification for imperialism. The conversation includes how the U.S. developed its unique form of global governance, drawing from ancient and modern empires, and compares direct versus indirect control methods used by the British and later by the Americans. The discussion also touches on the post-World War II era, where the U.S. shifted from direct colonialism to a more indirect form of control, influencing global politics, economy, and culture, while examining whether the U.S. can still be considered an empire. 00:00 Exploring the Justifications of Colonial Empires 00:29 The Moral and Ideological Foundations of Empire 02:38 The American Empire: A Unique Global Governance 03:45 Post-World War II: The Evolution of American Power 04:53 Indirect Control: The British Model and American Strategy 05:59 The Shift to Indirect Empire in the Post-War Era 07:03 Concluding Thoughts on Empire and Control Book Links: AnirudhSuri: The Great Tech Game by Anirudh Suri : https://amzn.eu/d/1Su38My How to Hide an Empire: https://amzn.eu/d/hssq9QF About Daniel Immerwahr: Daniel Immerwahr (Ph.D., Berkeley, 2011) is Bergen Evans Professor in the Humanities. His first book, Thinking Small (Harvard, 2015), offers a critical account of grassroots development campaigns launched by the United States at home and abroad. It won the Merle Curti Award in Intellectual History from the Organization of American Historians and the Society for U.S. Intellectual History's annual book award. His second book, How to Hide an Empire (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2019), is a narrative history of the United States that brings its overseas territory into the story. It was a national bestseller, a New York Times critic's choice for one of the best books of 2019, and the winner of the Robert H. Ferrell Prize from the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations. Immerwahr's writings have appeared in the New York Times, The Guardian, The Atlantic, The New Yorker, the Washington Post, Harper's, The New Republic, The Nation, and the New York Review of Books, among other places. More information and many of Immerwahr's writings are available at his website (https://history.northwestern.edu/people/faculty/core-faculty/daniel-immerwahr.html) #ColonialEmpire #BritishRaj #GlobalGovernance #Imperialism #AmericanEmpire #Expansionism #CivilizationJustification #EmpirePride #CulturalInfluence #EconomicControl #PostWWIIAmerica #IndirectControl #AntiColonialism #TerritorialControl #GlobalDominance #HistoricalPerspective #EmpiricalStudies #ColonialJustifications #ImperialStrategy #CulturalCommerceAlliances

Full Episode Link: https://youtu.be/7CL_8jnKBRk?si=S3dgqoeCM6-8ef-p In a thought-provoking conversation between Anirudh and Daniel, the conversation delves into how technological advancements have transformed the dynamics of global power, paralleling the shift with historical forms of imperialism. They discuss the United States' transition away from territorial empire towards a tech-driven influence, highlighting the role of technology in facilitating this shift. The conversation further explores the concept of 'digital' or 'data colonialism', especially in the context of India, where big tech's data practices evoke comparisons to the East India Company's colonial exploits. Anirudh and Daniel reflect on the historical parallels between early corporate ventures and colonization efforts, examining the evolving relationship between state power and corporate influence. Through their dialogue, they raise critical questions about the current era of 'tech empires', comparing them with traditional empires, and consider what lessons modern tech firms might learn from historical forms of imperial control. 00:00 The Evolution of Empire: From Land to Technology 00:41 Global Tech Competition and Its Historical Echoes 01:41 Data Colonialism: The New Age of Empires 02:26 Tech Firms as Modern Empires: A Comparative Analysis 03:29 Historical Parallels: Corporations and Empire Building 05:51 Reflecting on the Shift from State to Corporate Power Book Links: AnirudhSuri: The Great Tech Game by Anirudh Suri : https://amzn.eu/d/1Su38My How to Hide an Empire: https://amzn.eu/d/hssq9QF About Daniel Immerwahr: Daniel Immerwahr (Ph.D., Berkeley, 2011) is Bergen Evans Professor in the Humanities. His first book, Thinking Small (Harvard, 2015), offers a critical account of grassroots development campaigns launched by the United States at home and abroad. It won the Merle Curti Award in Intellectual History from the Organization of American Historians and the Society for U.S. Intellectual History's annual book award. His second book, How to Hide an Empire (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2019), is a narrative history of the United States that brings its overseas territory into the story. It was a national bestseller, a New York Times critic's choice for one of the best books of 2019, and the winner of the Robert H. Ferrell Prize from the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations. Immerwahr's writings have appeared in the New York Times, The Guardian, The Atlantic, The New Yorker, the Washington Post, Harper's, The New Republic, The Nation, and the New York Review of Books, among other places. More information and many of Immerwahr's writings are available at his website (https://history.northwestern.edu/people/faculty/core-faculty/daniel-immerwahr.html) #TechEmpires, #DigitalColonialism, #DataGrab, #GlobalTechGame, #HistoricalParallels, #EmpireDynamics, #TechInfluence, #USImperialism, #EastIndiaCompany, #ModernColonization, #TechDrivenPower, #CorporateVsState, #DataSovereignty, #TechnologyAndPower, #ImperialHistory, #BigTechInIndia #CulturalInfluence #TechCompetition #CorporateEmpires #StatePowerShift

Joel Mokyr takes a deep dive into history, tracing back from the agricultural revolution to the advent of technology in the modern era, Joel highlight major periods like agriculture, colonization, capitalism, and technology. Special focus is given to the transition from hunter gatherer societies to agriculture driven societies, with the latter catalyzing the emergence and complexity of modern civilization. The roles of specialization and division of labor during periods like the Roman Empire and the Song and Tang Dynasties in China are also explored, emphasize how regional and individual specializations, along with trade, led to the prosperity of these regions and increased agricultural productivity, making a point that trade is a positive sum game that makes both sides richer. Full Episode Link (Part 1): https://youtu.be/iV21apDujg8 (Part 2): https://youtu.be/j-EtfjGJbV0 00:00 Introduction: A Journey Back in Time 00:16 The Advent of Agriculture: The Birth of Modern Society 01:33 The Role of Specialization and Division of Labor in Pre-Industrial Societies 01:51 Case Studies: The Roman Empire and China's Tang and Song Dynasties 03:09 The Power of Trade: How it Shapes Nations 03:38 The Positive Sum Game: The Mutual Benefits of Trade In this two-part episode of The Great Tech Game podcast, host Anirudh Suri is joined by Joel Mokyr to dig deep into why some societies get rich, creative and successful while others don't. Mokyr and Suri discuss examples of countries that have unshackled themselves from their past, such as 19th century Japan during the Meiji Restoration and the East Asian tigers. They also explore how India can reverse its brain drain and become a tech nation, and not remain just a talent nation. Mokyr highlights the high levels of inequality being driven by the tech economy today, and both draw parallels with pre-WWI Europe and its experience with vast inequality driven by industrial capitalism. Jumping to the modern era, they discuss whether AI represents a new revolution in knowledge, or whether it is just hype. About Joel Mokyr: Joel Mokyr is Professor of Economics and History at Northwestern University. Joel Mokyr conducts research on the economic history of Europe, and specializes in the period 1750-1914. His current research is focused on the understanding of the economic and intellectual roots of technological progress and the growth of useful knowledge in European societies, as well as the impact that industrialization and economic progress have had on economic welfare. #History#Agriculture#IndustrialRevolution#GlobalTrade #Specialization #Colonization#Capitalism#Technology#Economics#DivisionOfLabor#Prosperity#AncientCivilizations#TradeRoutes#CulturalExchange#Innovation

In this episode of #TheGreatTechGame podcast, host Anirudh Suri is joined by Prof. Daniel Immerwahr to discuss the geopolitics of empires. From America to Meta, empires, old and new, have often learnt from previous empires, yet incorporated new characteristics and narratives to justify their existence with the times.What did the US learn from the empires that came before it? Are tech firms also empires in hiding? Is data grab the new land grab? Who will win the tug of war between states and tech firms? How is technology shaping geopolitics today? And are we still really prisoners of geography?Chapters:01:06 - welcome, and intro abt geopolitics and empires02:47 - the US Empire: what did it learn from its predecessor empires, esp the British?05:47 - How did the US justify its imperialist or expansionist tendencies? Civilizing mission.08:22 - Alfred McCoy, and the Post WWII Empire of the US11:07 - The US as an Indirect, Informal Empire?15:37 - Is the US imperial?17:17 - How will an emerging power like China envision its version of Empire? What lessons will it draw from the US Empire?19:17- what are the contours of power post 1945? The virtuous cycle of US economic, military and cultural power22:10 - The Case of the Telegraph Cables and the British All Red Network23:53 - The De-territorialization of Empire, and the US Pointillist Empire25:07 - The New Empires: The Tech Empires and parallels with East India Company27:02 - Data grab is the new land grab28:15 - Are tech Empires also empires in hiding?31:17 The History of Corporations vs States (The Ebb and Flow)33:07 - Who Will Win the Tug of war between State and Corporations? will the States Bat Last?34:52 - The hollowing out of the State (eg Nasa and space exploration)37:17 - The Private Armies of Big Tech Firms38:00 - An Unholy Nexus between Tech Firms and States?41:05 - Geopolitics : Are We Really Prisoners of Geography?44:50 - How is technology shaping geopolitics? 47:50 - The Two Wars that Changed Our View of Technology vs Geography in Geopolitics51:35 - The Element of Surprise in Military Strategy52:20 - The Re-Territorialization of Geopolitics, Despite The Impact of Technology 56:36 - Is Economics Driving Geopolitics or is Geopolitics Trumping Economics today?Are we Heading towards another Cold War?1:01:00 - Daniels book and podcast recommendations 1:02:15 - Closing Thoughts: Was the US playing the Great Tech Game well pre-WW2? How did it get its R&D strategy right?Book Links:Anirudh Suri:The Great Tech Game by Anirudh Suri : https://amzn.eu/d/1Su38MyDaniel Immerwahr:How to Hide an Empire: https://amzn.eu/d/hssq9QFFollow Anirudh here: X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/anirudhsuriLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anirudhsuri/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anirudh_suriFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnirudhSuri.in Website: www.anirudhsuri.comBook and Podcast: www.greattechgame.com As always, please do watch, subscribe and share!#TheGreatTechGamePodcast

John discusses the transformative impact of technological revolutions on society, culture, and politics, drawing parallels between the effects of the Gutenberg press, the Industrial Revolution, and contemporary technological advancements. The conversation also touches on the class conflict between labor and the capitalist class, leading to the concept of the welfare state. John concludes by pondering the global implications of these shifts, suggesting a possible 'second great divergence' in international economic development and power distribution. 00:00 Exploring the Impact of Technological Inventions on Society 00:47 The Industrial Revolution: A Catalyst for Social and Economic Change 01:57 Class Conflict and the Emergence of the Welfare State 02:41 Navigating Today's Technological Revolution and Its Societal Implications 04:23 The Shifting Landscape of Power and Wealth in the Digital Age 05:52 Concerns Over Job Displacement and the Hollowing Out of the Middle Class 06:33 Global Disparities: From the Industrial Revolution to the Tech Era #TechRevolution, #SocietalImpacts, #GreatDivergence, #TechInnovations, #SocietalChanges, #LearnFromHistory, #IndustrialRevolution, #MiddleClass, #ClassConflict, #HistoryShapingFuture

This script delves into the impact of major technological innovations, from the steam engine and electricity to the internet and artificial intelligence, on societal progress and industry leadership. It outlines how each new wave of technology brings about a shift in the market, allowing new winners to emerge and leaving once-dominant companies struggling to catch up. John discusses examples such as Kodak, Nokia, and BlackBerry to illustrate how failure to adapt to digital and smartphone revolutions led to their decline. He also touches on the speed at which technology evolves today compared to the past, emphasizing the need for current businesses to stay alert to innovations like reusable rockets by SpaceX to remain competitive. 00:00 Exploring the Waves of Innovation: From Steam to AI 00:42 The Unpredictable Game of Technological Winners and Losers 01:24 Case Studies: Kodak, Nokia, and BlackBerry's Missed Opportunities 02:27 The Accelerating Pace of Technological Change 03:38 The Revolutionary Impact of Reusable Rockets #TechRevolution, #Innovation, #TechTrends, #WinnersAndLosers, #TechAdaptation, #StayRelevant, #StayParanoid, #TechInnovations, #SpaceX, #InnovativeTech

John discusses the concept of world-changing innovations, highlighted by the work-in-progress piece titled 'How to Change the World'. He explains that for an invention to truly alter the world, it must drastically reduce the cost of a fundamental input into the economy by at least a factor of 10. Examples provided by John include the printing press, which ended the monopoly of the church in Western Europe by making books much cheaper and accessible, and the steam engine, which significantly reduced the cost of energy. The conversation further explores the invention of agriculture's effect on human society by increasing productivity and allowing for the development of complex societies and trade, emphasizing the acceleration of innovation and its compounding effects, such as the railroad from the steam engine and the internet from the microprocessor. 00:00 Introduction to Changing the World Through Innovation 00:18 The Power of Inventions: Suitcases to Printing Press 00:45 Revolutionizing Information: The Printing Press 01:53 Transformative Technologies: Steam Engine to Microprocessor 02:21 The First World-Changing Technology: Fire 03:36 Agriculture: The Foundation of Complex Societies 04:26 The Acceleration of Invention and Its Impact 04:41 The Digital Age: Microprocessors and the Internet 04:55 The Role of Google in the Information Era #ChangeTheWorld, #Inventions, #PrintingPress, #SteamEngine, #Microprocessor, #Technology, #History, #Innovation, #Agriculture, #Internet

This conversation explores the complex relationship and competition between the United States and China, focusing on their economic, military, and technological standings. John touches upon historical shifts in global power, comparing the potential transition from US to China dominance with past shifts, such as from the UK to the US. Their discussion highlights China's remarkable economic growth post-Mao Zedong and its embrace of capitalism, yet contrasts this with recent trends under Xi Jinping's leadership towards more state control and a crackdown on entrepreneurial freedom. Additionally, John addresses China's demographic challenges, including an aging population and declining birth rates, which could hinder its long-term growth and influence. Despite these advancements, the narrative warns of the inherent instability in authoritarian regimes compared to the self-correcting nature of democracies, suggesting that China's current power may be peaking amidst internal and external pressures. 00:00 The Global Power Shift: US vs. China 01:07 China's Remarkable Journey and Current Challenges 01:59 The Aging Population Dilemma in China 03:08 The Clampdown on Entrepreneurial Freedom 03:30 Technology: The New Wealth of Nations 05:11 The Mixed Picture of China's Rise 05:28 The Fragility of Tyrannies vs. The Strength of Democracies 05:54 China: A Rising or Falling Power? #TechnologyWealth, #AdamSmithLegacy, #NewWealthOfNations, #TechDevelopment, #EntrepreneurialInnovation, #IndustrialEspionageConcerns, #ChinaTechAdvancements, #InnovationEconomy, #WealthGenerationThroughTech, #GlobalTechCompetition.

John discusses the critical role of invention in building a sustainable and profitable startup ecosystem, contrasting it with the approach of duplicating existing business models, a trend observed in India's venture capital and startup world. John highlights the challenge of sustaining high profit margins without core inventions or protected technologies, drawing comparisons with U.S. tech companies like Google, Apple, and Qualcomm, which have built and fiercely protected their core IP, resulting in substantial cash balances. The example of Amazon is used to illustrate a successful business model that, while not a tech invention, has created immense value through service efficiency and an installed base, showcasing the extraordinary impact of innovative business practices over mere technological invention. 00:00 Exploring the Impact of Innovation on Economic Growth 00:25 The Startup Ecosystem: Copycats vs. Innovators 01:18 The Challenge of Building Profitable Businesses in a Copycat Culture 01:50 The Power of Core Invention and Intellectual Property 02:23 Adoption, Diffusion, and the Quest for Sustainable Profit Margins 02:54 Amazon's Business Model: A Case Study in Innovation 03:18 The Evolution of Amazon: From Books to Everything 03:44 Technological Invention vs. Service Efficiency: Google and Amazon Compared #Innovation, #TechTalk, #BusinessInsights, #Profitability, #CoreIP, #TechIndustry, #EconomicGrowth, #StartupEcosystem, #Invention, #DigitalTransformation

John examines the evolution and constant struggle of the United States with its banking system, highlighting its turbulent history from the founding of the Bank of the United States by Alexander Hamilton, to the opposition by Thomas Jefferson, and the eventual establishment of the Federal Reserve in 1913. Furthermore, John contrasts the imperfect but progressing banking and financial systems with the U.S. political system, illustrating its stability and resilience through the enduring effectiveness of the U.S. Constitution, compared to the political turbulence experienced by France over the same period. 00:00 Exploring the Complexities of the U.S. Banking System 00:35 The Founding Fathers' Financial Visions and Conflicts 02:08 The Evolution of American Banking and Financial Systems 03:04 Wall Street: From Wild West to Financial Powerhouse 04:30 The Imperfect Yet Progressing U.S. Banking System 04:45 Interlinking Financial Growth and Political Stability #USHistory, #Finance, #BankingHistory, #FinancialEvolution, #EconomicHistory, #FederalReserve, #WallStreetHistory, #FinancialMarket, #USConstitution, #PoliticalStability