Political Theory Matters: Formulating the AI Century

Understanding the Forces That Shape Society
My current work explores how ideas of power, order, and virtue shape the societies we inhabit, and what happens when those guiding ideologies decline and new ones emerge. I remain engaged in both nonfiction and fiction writing, using each to examine the human and institutional forces that shape our world. My current focus is on the evolution of Western political thought from the Renaissance through the Enlightenment, a period when divine authority gave way to reason, monarchs ceded ground to democratic institutions, and citizens, together with capital, reshaped the rules of governance. These transformations were more than political; they redefined the very meaning of authority, responsibility, and human agency, and paved the way to where we are today.

As algorithms increasingly mediate decisions once reserved for humans, and machine logic masquerades as wisdom, pressing questions return: How do we structure authority and legitimacy in a world shaped by forces beyond human oversight? How should institutions balance freedom, stability, and innovation when decision-making is increasingly automated? And what frameworks should we have, if any, to preserve human judgment and responsibility in an era that will potentially governed by intelligence that is not solely human?

Bridging Theory and Practice
With a foundation in international affairs, political science, global markets, and governance, and years advising and collaborating with leaders and institutions at the highest levels, I’ve seen theory collide with practice in ways that are both humbling and illuminating. These experiences have drawn me deeper into political theory as a lens for understanding human striving, one that I believe is imperative for our times.

Reviving the Philosopher-Statesman-Scholar
That said, I believe political theory must serve as a conceptual guide as well as a mirror and compass for action. My goal is to revive and modernize the philosopher-statesman-scholar: a thinker fluent in ideas, people, and institutions, capable of integrating ethics with innovation. This involves theorizing, advising, teaching, researching, shaping public discourse, and designing frameworks to guide human decision-making as we navigate the challenges and possibilities of an AI-driven century.

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Recommendations for readers also wanting to improve:

1. Engage with foundational texts in political thought.

• Renaissance to Enlightenment classics: Machiavelli’s The Prince, Hobbes’ Leviathan, Locke’s Two Treatises of Government, Montesquieu’s The Spirit of the Laws, Rousseau’s The Social Contract.

• Modern reflection: Isaiah Berlin’s essays on liberty, Hannah Arendt’s The Human Condition, and contemporary analyses of political theory in technologically mediated societies.

2. Read across genres.
Balance nonfiction with fiction that interrogates society and human agency: George Orwell’s 1984, Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, and Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World,. These works provide creative perspectives on governance, power, and societal order.

3. Engage critically with current events.
Follow developments in AI governance, debates over digital platforms, or institutional reforms in government and global organizations. Consider which structures preserve human judgment, which concentrate power, and what ethical frameworks are being applied.

4. Reflect and write.
Maintain a journal or write essays exploring questions raised in this piece and elsewhere. Combine nonfiction and creative writing to surface both analytical and humanistic insights. Some questions: How should freedom, stability, and innovation be balanced in an automated world? How do historical shifts in authority inform contemporary challenges? Think in terms of both linear and lateral.

5. Participate in public discourse.
Engage in workshops, think tank roundtables, and/or online and in-person discussions on political theory, governance, technology, and AI ethics. Active participation deepens understanding and helps connect theory with practice.