Sovereignty, the State and the Individual

Crisis, New Paradigms and Sense-Making.

A.l.
A.l.
Sep 7, 2018 · 5 min read
“When you are wrestling for possession of a sword, the man with the handle always wins.” ~ Snowcrash

Introduction:

It is without question change is innevitable. Yet to many the idea that there could be a change in the current paradigms of how the World works seems unfathomable, alien. “It’s the way its always been this way” is the cliche answer for many facets of society. The Qwerty keyboard being an obvious target. Yet a growing group of individuals unrelated in everyway are questioning society at large.

This group of misfits from all walks of life is the beginnings of a shift in global paradigms. About everything, money, fianance, relationships, family, health, wealth, housing, freedom, travel and anything else you can imagine.

For brevity we will look at the current major underpinnings of our current paradigm. The Nation-state system.

Sovereignty:

Sovereignty, as defined, is absolute power over a particular domain. We can view sovereignty in the context of statecraft and governance in two broad categories. Individual and collective. One can maximize for one, but not the other.

With individual sovereignty is about exerting individual capacity of wants and aims upon the World; while collective sovereignty can be viewed as the capacity for a group to impose its ideas will etc on the world & it’s members. Collective sovereignty can be viewed at any scale, as the local gathering of hobbyists to the entity we call humanity. The collective is constrained by the nation-state among other things. Hence why certain groups are prevented from performing activities they may otherwise want to do so.

While the nation-state has tried to maximize both, it ultimately constrains both vastly to ensure it’s permanence. This left both the collective and the individual found wanting; with inertia and the distinction between chaos and order keeping the system alive.

Alternative Governance and the Nation-State:

The examination of alternative governance suggests a fundamental shift away from the nation-state. This shift suggests the decline of inertia that has plagued the international system since the Treaty of Westphalia. Moreover, it suggests a possible integration between sovereignty of the collective or the individual and governance. One can view the integration of church and state as an embodiment of full sovereignty given to a religious collective.

The shift to more empowered collectives will lead to more tribal based societies, as the collective fully exerts their norms and values over their particular domain. Observed sabbaths can be seen as one norm. Or this can be seen are the creation of the anarchic society as a collective of individuals can decide that nothing is taboo or sacred.

Currently, full individual sovereignty is not possible as the individual is constricted to their own physical form even with modifications. A more realized individual sovereignty will likely only come from virtual worlds where the individuals have complete control of at minimum their avatar. Where as any anarchic society will eventually reform order around a hierarchy of sorts.

However, a plethora of collective sovereignties while constricting the individual to their norms, paradoxically gives the individual more choice, in comparison to the current nation-state system. For the individual can determine what fits his or her wants/needs. This is different then the current system as the variety of governance structures be it laws, customs, norms etc. are quite similar between nation-states. The choices between nation-states is minor.

The Gap:

There is, however, and still is a gap between the international nation-state system and the new system of collective sovereignties. The gap will no doubt be bridged by crisis, for destruction yields the ability to experiment once more. This gap between these two new paradigms is roughly outlined by three major facets.

Distributed Technologies

The use and underdevelopment of distributed technologies are one, paradigm-altering facet of this shift. Often commonly thought of as blockchain. Distribution of governance and ledgers alter how humanity interacts not only with each other but with the systems it creates.

Another distributed technology one may not realize is 3D printing. Creation of not just products, but medicine, life etc. free humanity from locational constraints. It also frees society from interaction if they desire. The distribution of production, as well as the distribution of potential political power, has untold consequences for the remained of the twenty-first century.

Destruction of the Fiat Monetary System

The current global monetary system is wholly unsustainable, by every metric. A radical shift is necessary for societies to operate within the new paradigm of the collapsed system. This will undoubtedly limit the sovereignty of both the collective and the individual. Societies have two options, opt in or out.

While digital currencies seem inevitable, the lack of infrastructure is astounding. Individual sovereignties may decide to create their own currencies, thus exchanges will be necessary to prevent the double coincidence of wants. A global currency is unlikely given the tribalistic nature of humanity, although this is counterbalanced by technological inertia (necessary infrastructure). Moreover, the shift in the monetary system may redefine ideas of wealth, money, poverty and status.

Orientation Capacity

Individuals operating within this new paradigm will not only need to update their sense-making capacities to orient themselves within this new environment, but also understand the complex ramifications of redefinition. For while one can remove the limits of capacity norms be it cultural or human seep into play.

The vast majority of individuals will not have the capacity for redefinition at the beginning. This is due to the fact their mental models no longer apply to the world. One can draw the comparison between the human mind and a snow-globe. Things will be so radically different the ensuing chaotic vortex overloads the senses.

As a result for the first time in several hundred years a small subset of humanity with operable sense-making capacity during this time; can redefine the World not only physically, but also on a memetic norms and values level.

Coda:

The increasing prominence of alternative governance thinking among other factors suggests that the World is on a precipice of monumental change. The global restructuring will be defined by the limits of technology, human nature and those with active sense-making capacities. The redefinition of humanity truly will be what we make of it.

A.l.

Written by

A.l.

Persuader. Futurist. Blockchain. Sovereign Individual. https://twitter.com/Kairon01

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