Brave New World - Politics in Minutes (2016)

Politics in Minutes (2016)

Brave New World

It is likely that the accelerating advances in technology today will bring unforeseen changes not only to the way we live our lives, but also to the way we organize our societies. It has been suggested that we are moving into a post-industrial world based on information technology and, while it is true that much of the developed world has shifted to service industries, we are still reliant on manufacturing and agriculture. Information, and the speed and ease with which we can access it, is changing the way that we participate in the political process. Opinions are shaped by information spread through the internet, and this has enabled grassroots movements to thrive.

Mainstream politics has been slow to adapt, allowing many anti-establishment groups, including terrorist organizations, to infiltrate political and military computers. Some of this activity has exposed corruption and abuses of power, but also compromised national security, and has led to governments restricting civil liberties on the pretext of security.

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In 2012, Julian Assange, co-founder of the controversial website WikiLeaks, sought refuge from extradition proceedings in London’s Ecuadorian embassy.