One element of Snow Crash that I find kind of unlikely is the weakened states. States have not always existed as they do today but I don't think that necessarily means they will be wildly different from what we have. I think that the next step for states isn't to be weakened and fragmented but to follow some sort of over-arching government. Similar to a federal system. An international governmental organization would gain some more power. After many international disasters (ie WWI and WWII), the states were willing to give up more sovereignty rights in order to get protection and ensure future peace. I think the next step for states is to work more together. The US also only specializes in movies, music, pizza, and microcrodes. I think that's unlikely, while some countries do specialize in one particular good, I don't believe the US would be willing to. Many people, and companies have a vested interest in the United States keeping their powerful economy and protecting against hyperinflation. In the book the US experiences brain drain but currently, people are leaving the developing world to come to the developed world.
Saturday, May 2, 2015
Snow Crash
Predictions of the future are made from circumstances and situations in the present. Based on today's society I think one element of Snow Crash that is plausible is the creation of burbclaves. I think in the world today we already seeing a greater divide between the rich and poor. Burbclaves are similar to gated communities. In some communities today we are already seeing greater homogeneity therefore I think its possible to have a burbclave full of people with the same culture. In the book the central collapse of the state leads to the wealthy sealing themselves off in the burbclaves which seems likely to me. The wealthy will look out for themselves. I think in the future conflicts and international catastrophes will only make the divisions in wealth more prominent. This gets root in today's politics of gentrification. Running people out of their homes and make it harder to afford that area has caused many issues that society faces today and is the beginning step in creating a burbclave.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
This is going to sound similar to what i said in Dan's post about the burbclaves, but I the effects globalization has had on cultural exchange would make these things seem too drastic in the future. In regards to your ideas on the differences, do you think there ever could be some type of systematic event that would create many weakened states? For example, is it possible for the U.S. to lose so much of its recognition that it relies on only a few things?
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with your point on people leaving the developing world and coming to the developed world and that enforces the importance of the U.S. in future markets, economies, and governments (if in the future we have some over arching international organization as the government). I think this book pokes fun at what many people assume the U.S. culture is: movies, music, and fast food. And I disagree I think there is so much more to it.
ReplyDeleteI think that there is a segment of the population that are growing increasingly conservative and increasingly disrespectful of other cultures and so I think if this movement strengthens and continues it will be possible to have burbclaves.
ReplyDeleteI think its possible that there could be an international catastrophe and the US could lose some recognition and power but I think its unlikely that we would rely on those things. I agree with Val and think its mocking the spread of US culture now. When in reality US culture is more than consumer products. I think that the people in the US, the corporations who are headquartered here, and our allies have a reason to ensure the US economy does well.
I agree with your statement about the unlikeliness of weakened states, though our end result is different. While you see some overarching international organization, I see a resurgence in state power through nationalism or just pure pride. I think that the developed countries, mainly the US and even some countries like China and Russia, would be altogether unwilling to allow their state to devolve to the point in the book. I think it is too drastic for states to implode to the point in the book.
ReplyDelete