Presentation of the monograph «Great Power Politics in the Fourth Industrial Revolution: The Geoeconomics of Technological Sovereignty» by Prof. Glenn Diesen
On March 16, 2021, an online presentation of the monograph "Great Power Politics in the Fourth Industrial Revolution: The Geoeconomics of Technological Sovereignty" was held. The author - Glenn Diesen, a Professor at the University of Southeastern Norway.
Two discussants participated in the online presentation: Vasily Kashin, CCEIS Deputy Director, and Maxim Suchkov, Director of the Center for Advanced American Studies, Institute of International Studies, MGIMO-University
Prof. Diesen in the book explores to what extent the 4th Industrial Revolution influences the geo-economic competition between the great powers
Key ideas expressed by Prof. Diesen:
- Technology influences both politics and economics; technological sovereignty as the main theme of the book
- Key driving force for the 4th industrial revolution is the push towards technological sovereignty
- It can be achieved by developing platforms under national control and by diversifying technological partnerships to reduce excessive reliance on other regions (this is what he advises to Russia)
- The dilemma of tech giants: domestic vs international strength
- Creative destruction as an economic and social concept
Key ideas expressed by Prof. Diesen:
- Notion of great power in the 21st century implies having its own platform
- Digital colonists obtain unlimited access to big data which makes countries vulnerable
- There is an overreliance on technology
- Europe instead of becoming a center is becoming a battleground for the new competition – greatest market, huge economy, major technological center, but political weaknesses
- Revolution brings transformation into warfare