Bitely

Inventing the Future

Nick Srnicek, Alex Williams

Folk politics, characterized by small-scale, direct-action methods like protests and ethical consumption, often fails to achieve lasting structural change due to its focus on personal actions and emotional responses rather than systemic issues and long-term strategies. While it simplifies complex global problems into tangible actions, this approach overlooks the broader, interconnected systems at play, limiting its effectiveness. In contrast, neoliberalism has reshaped society through a meticulously planned, top-down strategy, embedding itself deeply into global politics, economics, and culture. As automation increasingly threatens jobs across industries, the left must adopt a similarly strategic vision, embracing full automation and exploring solutions like universal basic income (UBI). UBI, supported historically and recently by economists and public figures, could liberate individuals from traditional employment, enabling them to pursue personal fulfillment. However, achieving this requires a cultural shift in how society values work, a topic that will be examined further.

11 min

6 Bite

Insight

What's it about?

Folk politics, with its focus on small-scale, direct-action methods like protests and ethical consumption, has long been a hallmark of leftist movements. However, this approach often prioritizes emotional responses and short-term goals over systemic, transformative change. In contrast, neoliberalism’s rise demonstrates the power of strategic, long-term planning in reshaping society. As automation threatens to upend the workforce, the book explores how embracing universal basic income and rethinking our relationship with work could offer a path toward a more equitable and liberated future. Through a critical lens, it examines the limitations of current political strategies while proposing bold alternatives for meaningful progress.

Book summary

Nick Srnicek is a lecturer at the City University of London. He is also the author of Platform Capitalism.

To read rest of the book, you can download Bitely

All Bites

6 Bites

Rethinking Activism: Beyond Folk Politics

Rethinking Activism: Beyond Simplistic Solutions

How Neoliberalism Outpaced Folk Politics

Strategic Visions: Lessons from Neoliberal Dominance

Redefining Work in an Automated Future

Embracing Automation: Redefining Work and Income

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