Summary

In his Introduction, the author outlines his reasons for writing this particular book in relation to his previous books. His first, he says, was focused on the past, and his second was focused on the future. In this book, he says, he intends to focus more on the situation in his present (i.e. the early twenty-first century) within the context of considering both past and future. He says that the book will consider the different implications and outcomes of a range of technological developments, as well as the relative unpredictability of how individuals, governments, and socio-political movements make use of those developments. He also says that the book places all his considerations within the context of history, looking closely at how aspects of liberal democracy, as he calls it, are ultimately the best way to maintain healthy, responsible, respectful societies – this, he adds...