The current moment in world history is a painful one. Open societies are in crisis, and various forms of dictatorships and mafia states, exemplified by President Vladimir Putin's Russia, are on the rise. In the United States, President Donald Trump would like to establish his own mafia-style state but cannot, because the constitution, other institutions and a vibrant civil society won't allow it.
Not only is the survival of open society in question; the survival of our entire civilization is at stake. The rise of leaders such as Kim Jong Un in North Korea and Trump in the U.S. have much to do with this. Both seem willing to risk a nuclear war in order to keep themselves in power. But the root cause goes even deeper. Mankind's ability to harness the forces of nature, both for constructive and destructive purposes, continues to grow, while our ability to govern ourselves properly fluctuates and is now at a low ebb.
The rise and monopolistic behavior of the giant American internet platform companies is contributing mightily to the U.S. government's impotence. These companies have often played an innovative and liberating role. But as Facebook and Google have grown ever more powerful, they have become obstacles to innovation and have caused a variety of problems of which we are only now beginning to become aware.