The Desktop Regulatory State: The Countervailing Power of Individuals and Networks

by Kevin A. Carson

Defenders of the modern state often claim that it's needed to protect us-from terrorists, invaders, bullies, and rapacious corporations. Economist John Kenneth Galbraith, for instance, famously argued that the state was a source of "countervailing power" that kept other social institutions in check.But what if those "countervailing" institution-corporations, government agencies and domesticated labor unions-in practice collude more than they "countervail" each other? And what if network communications technology and digital platforms now enable us to take on all those dinosaur hierarchies as equals-and more than equals. In The Desktop Regulatory State, Kevin Carson shows how the power of self-regulation, which people engaged in social cooperation have always possessed, has been amplified and intensifed by changes in consciousness-as people have become aware of their own power and of their ability to care for themselves without the state-and in technology-especially information technology.Drawing as usual on a wide array of insights from diverse disciplines, Carson paints an inspiring, challenging, and optimistic portrait of a humane future without the state, and points provocatively toward the steps we need to take in order to achieve it.

Genres: Politics, Economics, Philosophy, Technology, History

462 pages, Paperback

Published March 4, 2016

Reviews

[Andrew Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, what can I say about Kevin Carson's "The Desktop Regulatory State"? The book, which the author is kind enough to print in its entirety for the general public for free online, is an incredible work.

You can tell there was absolutely painstaking research that went into this from a whole whack of sources. It was actually probably too much all in all, and Carson is fond of quoting some of his sources in detail. I admit I skipped many of these quotes just because of the size and number of them. I would liked to have seen less long quotes in the book at any rate.

Putting that aside, I think he does a fine job of wiping the floor with all those who say "we need state power for defence, to act as a check on business power, to educate people, to assure quality standards, ensure disaster relief, protect civil liberties, etc." There's basically a chapter dedicated to why each of these things can be done (and much more efficiently) through decentralized, voluntary/P2P means. Most of the book is in fact dedicated towards making a mockery of the notion, made famous by economist John Kenneth Galbraith, of the "countervailing power" and necessity of large, hierarchical institutions.

One aspect I really liked was explained early on in his chapter about hierarchies vs networks, a theme that Again plays out throughout the book. It doesn't matter how brilliant or innovative those at the top of the hierarchy may be, the mere structure of the hierarchy renders their intelligence, and even more so the intelligence of those further down, unusable for the most part. No doubt in any world Carson could conceive of some hierarchy would remain, but there is a convincing argument there that hierarchy is not necessarily the best way to organize, and that the network is proving this to be a reality. Until now most hierarchies are treated as "the way things are" and that definitely can be changed, I think. He also explains the sheer idiocy and blundering ineffiency of any bureaucratic, hierarchical entity relative to its network counterparts. This was once conceived of as the most efficient and rational means of organization, as noted by sociologist Max Weber. Carson points to emerging networked movements like Wikileaks as well as terrorist organizations like Al Qaeda Iraq, who have outsmarted the bureaucracies at every turn, as evidence that the Weberian model is quickly becoming obsolete.

All in all I give it 4 stars and look forward to his next book, currently in the works.

[Neon Snake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here, Kevin Carson expands on previous theories and points in all sorts of directions for how decentralised networks are superior to top-down hierarchical nodes - everything from (not shying away from) terrorist networks in the middle East, to centralised corporations in the "civilised West", and how badly they deal with emergent situations.

In excruciating detail, KC runs through the hardships that centralised operations will come up against - whilst hinting with a cough and a nod towards just how much we in the "free-market loving West" actually love our centralisation in reality, and just how far we've strayed from a free-market, no matter the rhetoric.

There's a really good section in the middle of the book about regulations of the "no peanuts" variety, which is one of the most difficult (in my experience) to get across to pro-state types, and how the regulations favour big business.

For that section alone, I'd give it five stars.

[Robert Stutchbury · Rating 3 out of 5]

Medium. Got halfway through and gave up.
Partially the sort of frameworks that Carson brings to bear on the new technological order I think are somewhat not up to the task, partially there is something unquantifiable that I don't like about their writing style. IDK what it is the words are just fine, something gets to me tho.

[David Blowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another message of hope!