In contemporary discourse, it is increasingly posited that states and governments globally are engaged in a profound conflict with their citizenry. This assertion holds substantial veracity, particularly in the context of the monumental shift from the industrial and analog eras to the digital and cyber eras. This transition signifies an unprecedented metamorphosis of our world, beginning with the dissemination of information and extending to the nature of human relationships. However, the most consequential transformation lies within the financial system, which is evolving from traditional cash to a cashless paradigm, ultimately culminating in the implementation of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs).
The drive to dominate cyberspace, control the cyber financial system, and manipulate the cyber information and social network systems necessitates a state of perpetual conflict. Individuals harnessing these digital tools and leveraging the vast reservoirs of knowledge empowered by artificial intelligence systems are perceived as threats to the state's hegemony. Consequently, the state is compelled to suppress freedom of speech and systematically dismantle democratic institutions to retain control over this nascent cyber territory before it can be fully appropriated by the populace.
Historically, this struggle for control is not without precedent. The invention of the printing press catalyzed the Reformation, disseminating knowledge and ideas that undermined the monopolistic grip of the Church on information. Similarly, the advent of the internet revolutionized communication and commerce, decentralizing information and empowering individuals in ways previously unimaginable. The emergence of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies represents a contemporary parallel, challenging the traditional financial systems and state-controlled monetary policies.
In this historical context, the current transition to a digital and cyber era echoes past technological revolutions, each characterized by an initial period of state resistance followed by eventual adaptation or transformation. The thesis, therefore, posits that the current geopolitical and philosophical conflict is an intrinsic part of the broader evolutionary trajectory of human society. As the state endeavors to exert control over the burgeoning digital landscape, it faces inevitable resistance from individuals and collectives empowered by these very technologies. This dialectic will shape the future of human governance, freedom, and democracy in the digital age.
