|
I know "those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it", and that the US-Roman empire analogy is a current fave (and certainly has some pertinant cautionary tales). But there is one HUGE wild card that exists today that never has before: digital communication. Not only does this change the rules for business, but it is reshaping the very core of society and culture, for the most part before we can even begin to get a handle on how, let alone what the ramifications are.
We are already seeing that traditional might is not enough to win in a decentralized "war on terror." The balance/dynamic between hard and soft power is very much in flux. So what will be the response of those who currently hold the hard power? To shut down the avenues that allow soft power to flourish? Unfortunately, these are the same capabilities that drive entreprenurialism and innovation. What's interesting is that the US has pushed hard tof those things in the business sector, but fights tooth and nail to keep them from the social sector. And that will be where the ultimate battle and (likely) failure of the US government will begin. If you want a minicosm of it, look at the last 20 years of the recording industry in light of p2p.
The times they are a changin'....
|