Gen X Science Fiction & Futurism
The KMO Show
KMO Show 033
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KMO Show 033

Post-Liberal Futures with Peter Clarke

The KMO Show #033: Network States, Dark Enlightenment, and the Logic of AI Governance

Peter Clarke, author of The Singularity Survival Guide and co-host of Team Futurism, joins me for a recorded call to map out the ideological and structural terrain of post-liberal governance. We compare the visions of Curtis Yarvin and Balaji Srinivasan, asking whether network states and CEO-style rule represent parallel evolutions—or fundamentally incompatible responses to the breakdown of liberal institutions.

We talk through:

  • The competition for high-agency individuals in a fragmented geopolitical landscape

  • How AI changes the logic of governance—from persuasion to optimization

  • The role of soft power, memetics, and status in a post-job economy

  • Whether the ultra-wealthy are building viable exits or just gilded cages

  • And what kinds of sovereignty still matter when state capacity is up for grabs

This episode isn’t about utopias or dystopias. It’s about the systems already taking shape—and how their underlying logics might collide.


Takeaways

The idea of a cybernetic harmony between machines and nature.

Post-liberal governance is characterized by the emergence of network states and dark enlightenment.

Network states are communities formed online with the goal of becoming recognized as legitimate states.

High agency individuals are attracted to network states due to their flexibility and potential for innovation.

AI is expected to play a significant role in future governance structures.

The concept of status games may evolve in a jobless future, providing new forms of social validation.

The viability of network states is questioned in terms of their ability to defend against traditional state powers.

A one world government may emerge as a necessity to manage global risks associated with advanced technologies.

The ultra wealthy may leverage network states to escape taxes and create exclusive communities.

New ideas and frameworks are needed to adapt to the rapid changes brought by technology.

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