10/5/23, 5:16 PM The Rise of Techno-Feudalism.

Globalisation and automation are… | by Mark Timberlake | Predict | Medium

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The Rise of Techno-Feudalism

Mark Timberlake · Follow
Published in Predict · 9 min read · Feb 28, 2022

382 6

Globalisation and automation are impacting society shifting it to a feudal like

state. The disruption that has followed globalisation and automation has
eliminated382 6
vast numbers of businesses and destroyed millions of middle-
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10/5/23, 5:16 PM The Rise of Techno-Feudalism. Globalisation and automation are… | by Mark Timberlake | Predict | Medium

class jobs. Rising productivity from automation has not been re-invested,
and has not yielded replacement jobs. Adding to the uncertainty for ordinary
people there is a global housing crisis rendering many property-less serfs.
The only prospering classes are professionals and tech oligarchs who benefit
as algorithms replace human relationships.

Following a period of greater wealth distribution and opportunity, society is

returning to an era of greater concentration of wealth and property, reduced
upward mobility, demographic stagnation, and increased dogmatism.

What is Techno-feudalism?
In a Feudal society lords had control over the peasants because they owned
the land that the peasants lived on and farmed. In compensation for the
privilege of living on, and farming the lord’s land, lords extracted rents from
the peasants. Rent-seeking was a major form of economic exchange in
Feudal society. It is characterised by the extraction of value without any
reciprocal contribution to productivity.

In addition to power and control over the peasants, lords concentrated

enormous wealth, and had few constraints outside of obligations to the King
and government.

How Tech companies resemble Fiefdoms

Tech platform companies are displaying similar characteristics to Feudal
fiefdoms. They are deepening focal points for the concentration of wealth
and power. Their business model is a form of rent-seeking as they make no
productive economic or social contribution to society. In addition, these
companies are playing an increasing role in our lives as they seek a
controlling influence over preferences, purchases, and behaviour. And,

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10/5/23, 5:16 PM The Rise of Techno-Feudalism. Globalisation and automation are… | by Mark Timberlake | Predict | Medium

these tech platform companies are only loosely accountable, as they behave
more like nation-states on a global scale.

Concentration of wealth:
Tech companies have concentrated enormous wealth, and economic power.
Amazon has almost 1.5 million employees. Alphabet employs over 135,000
people. Facebook employs 48,000…

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Jonathan Lethem Susan Orlean Dr. Tom Frieden

New York Times Best-Selling Author Staff Writer Former CDC Director
The New Yorker

Savala Nolan Roger Martin Laura Vanderkam

Professor, UC Berkeley School of Law Professor, Strategy Advisor, Former Dean Best-Selling Author, TED Speaker

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Written by Mark Timberlake Follow

2.1K Followers · Writer for Predict

A quest for insights from subterranean depths. Seeker of ideas, awakenings, alchemy.
Thoughts from a troubled star.

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