…history seems to indicate that for every technological advance there is a corresponding advance in the tools and skills to counteract its effect. For every new weapon, sooner or later there is an instrument or behavior that minimizes its power and usefulness.Jakub Grygiel, a professor at JHU SAIS, just wrote a powerhouse article that looks at the rise of stateless groups as a response to (1) the proliferation of technological capabilities that were until recently monopolized by states as well as (2) the dominant ability of the United States and other major powers to target and coerce states.
The Power of Statelessness is easily one of the most cogent, articulate and reasonable summaries of these dynamics that I’ve encountered. Highly recommended.
