It was once thought the internet would democratise information, communication and, in turn, politics. The prediction held true for a while, but as the Noughties progressed, the internet was repurposed. It became an exploitative form of hyper-capitalism in America, a tool of state surveillance in China, and a weapon to subvert other states in Russia.
The misplaced faith in the benign effects of the internet was mirrored in the broader story of globalisation. The belief that a single liberal world order would corral belligerent states into a democratic peace was widespread. Likewise, international trade was championed as a guarantor of interdependence and thus an antidote to war.
Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month
Content from our partners
