The Dark Side Of Decentralization — with Audrey Kurth Cronin

Is decentralization inherently a good thing? 


These days, there's a lot of talk about decentralization.
Decentralized social media platforms can allow us to own our own
data. Decentralized cryptocurrencies can enable bank-free
financial transactions. Decentralized 3D printing can allow us to
fabricate anything we want.


But if the world lives on Bitcoin, we may not be able to sanction
nation states like Russia when they invade sovereign nations. If
3D printing is decentralized, anyone can print their own weapons
at home. Decentralization takes on new meaning when we're talking
about decentralizing the capacity for catastrophic
destruction. 


This week on Your Undivided Attention, we explore the history of
decentralized weaponry, how social media is effectively a new
decentralized weapon, and how to wisely navigate these threats.
Guiding us through this exploration is Audrey Kurth Cronin — one
of the world’s leading experts in security and terrorism. Audrey
is a distinguished Professor of International Security at
American University, and the author of several books — most
recently: Power to the People: How Open Technological
Innovation is Arming Tomorrow’s Terrorists.


Clarification: in the episode, Tristan refers to a video
of Daniel Schmachtenberger's as "The Psychological Pitfalls of
Working on Existential Risk." The correct name of the video is
"Psychological Pitfalls of Engaging With X-Risks &
Civilization Redesign."

RECOMMENDED MEDIA 


Power to the People: How Open Technological Innovation is
Arming Tomorrow's Terrorists
Audrey Kurth Cronin's latest book, which analyzes emerging
technologies and devises a new framework for analyzing 21st
century military innovation


Psychological Pitfalls of Engaging With X-Risks &
Civilization Redesign
Daniel Schmachtenberger's talk discussing the psychological
pitfalls of working on existential risks and civilization
redesign


Policy Reforms Toolkit
The Center for Humane Technology's toolkit for developing
policies to protect the conditions that democracy needs to
thrive: a comprehensively educated public, a citizenry that can
check the power of market forces and bind predatory
behavior

RECOMMENDED YUA EPISODES

22 – Digital Democracy is Within Reach with Audrey Tang:
https://www.humanetech.com/podcast/23-digital-democracy-is-within-reach  


28 – Two Million Years in Two Hours: A Conversation with Yuval
Noah Harari:
https://www.humanetech.com/podcast/28-two-million-years-in-two-hours-a-conversation-with-yuval-noah-harari


45 – Is World War III Already Here? Guest: Lieutenant General
H.R. McMaster:
https://www.humanetech.com/podcast/45-is-world-war-iii-already-here