Citizens without a nation
In a borderless world, what do identity, culture & citizenship even mean? And what can nation states & individuals do to prepare for a world that is shifting under our feet?
Welcome to the written edition of the ICP newsletter. Mohammad Syed writes from the Empasco desk on the decline of the nation state and rise of networked civilisations.
The Digest
“Identity is no longer a life's project but a lifelong project: not a ‘thing’ to be built… but a task that is continuously re-set." - Zygmunt Bauman, Sociologist
We are headed into a world organised via “Network States”, political & economic entities that in which citizenship is based on participation and shared values.
As digital platforms blend & reshape cultural identities across borders, traditional notions of culture, citizenship, and identity will become increasingly fluid.
Dubai is an example of a networked-state that attracts dynamic global talent and investment through strategic incentives, rather than traditional citizenship routes.
Traditional nation states can proactively transition into the network state model by emphasising engagement, decentralised governance and population fluidity.
Policy makers need to prioritise governance, decentralized economic activity, and cultural diversity as part of a radical rethink of political & economic frameworks.
Tell us what you think
The Empasco Briefing
The Arabic word for human is “Insaan”, literally “oft-forgetful”. As inherently forgetful, fallible beings we tend to take things for granted. Amongst these topics are those most foundational to who we are, namely Identity (“who are we really?”), Culture (“what do we believe & value?“), and Citizenship (“where do we belong?”).
In a digitalised world that is rapid becoming borderless, where the location of our birth is increasingly irrelevant and viral content is more influential than our neighbours, we would do well to consider how the world will be different in future.
What is a borderless world?
In "The Network State" by Balaji S. Srinivasan, the author explores how new forms of society can be created through technology, transforming traditional nation-states into network-based entities powered by digital interactions and decentralised governance.
It’s central thesis is that technology, specifically digital networks & cryptocurrencies, will enable unprecedented political & economic formations that are organised around objectives and/ or values and which operate like networks rather than nation states. In this new world, citizenship will be based on digital participation and value creation, rather than geographic boundaries, inherited ethnic identities or spoken languages.
Such a transition would of course have significant impacts on political, social, and economic systems. But what would such a transition require of today’s nation states?
Network state enablers
Transitioning from nation-states to networked- states requires a digitally engaged model of governance and social organisation (as well as economic activity, such as the protection of intellectual property rights), and Srinivasan envisions encryption & cryptoeconomics to be the enabling communication & record keeping mechanisms.
Similarly, the concept of cloud communities (online worlds where interactions move between digital and physical spaces seamlessly) may enable entirely new paradigms of social connection, empowering a new concept of “neighbourhoods” that span geographic boundaries and are rooted in shared values, ideals & experiences.
Finally, Western liberal and capitalist societies are defined by a plethora of freedoms and commercial choices, but a networked state would evolve this considerably. Citizens of such states would be able to truly "vote with their feet," joining & leaving states based on the effectiveness of their governance, cultural values, and economic opportunities with the simplicity of switching between digital services & products.
Is Britain a legacy state?
This transition would of course radically undermine legitimacy of existing nation states. Consider the case of the United Kingdom; already struggling to realise the ideals of the nation state model because of structural inefficiencies, ineffective use of technology, and chronic underinvestment in infrastructure, the notion of a networked state undermines the very basis of its political, economic and social constructs.
How could countries like Britain get ahead of the curve and avoid obsolescence?
Turning East
Non- citizens make up 88% of Dubai’s population. Alongside large communities of Indians and Pakistanis, there is now a significant number of wealthy, fashionable & entrepreneurial Westerners and Asians who have made the UAE their home.
As Dubai seeks to become a global hub for finance, tourism, and business powered by its strategic location, natural resources and state-of-the-art infrastructure, attracting and retaining skilled workers, entrepreneurs and investors is critical.
But instead of offering the traditional incentives of naturalisation & citizenship, Dubai employs tax schemes, luxurious living and unique experiences to surgically target investors, creatives and professionals to realise its vast ambitions.
Dubai’s emphasis on leveraging non-citizens to develop a dynamic & diverse economy and cosmopolitan culture requires a networked-state paradigm, creating the means for the city to operate as a hub for the flow of capital, ideas & talent via world- class services, excellent cultural & touristic experiences and modern regulatory frameworks.
While it has not done away with passports, Dubai is a case in point of why the tradition assumptions underpinning the nation state might already be obsolete- and indicative of the fate of nations that fail to plan for this rapidly approaching future.
Priorities for policy makers
Assuming this is where we are headed, today’s nations need to prioritise three reforms:
Introduce measures that personalise governance structures, such as more civic engagement, community representation and the ability to choose political affiliations based on personal values and needs. This radically undermines the current party- political structure that is based on geographic affiliation with party- endorsed candidates and the use of the “whip” to secure passage of legislation, and so will represent a radical rethink of political organisation.
Prioritise technologies that enhance security & trust among citizens to enable decentralised forms of economic activity, such as blockchain-based systems that enable the easier flow of capital and infrastructure that enables virtual & augmented reality to power new forms of digital entrepreneurship.
Embrace policies that encourage cultural diversity to attract the world’s best talent, and develop regulatory frameworks that support the ethical use of artificial intelligence to protect communities & individuals in a connected world.
The future of Culture, Citizenship & Identity
Asa a result of these changes, our notions of culture, citizenship & identity will be radically different in future. Let’s explore each of these in turn.
Does the school trip to Florence matter anymore?
In a networked world, what does it mean to be “cultured”?
As digital platforms enable new forms of identity that bridge traditional geographic boundaries, cultures are continuously merging into & influencing each other.
Consider a child that develops a love of Ancient Roman culture, creating an online community of like-minded enthusiasts to live each day “as the Romans do”. Perhaps they create Gladiator- inspired fitness programs or share cooking tips for flamingo tongues (once popular amongst the Roman elite as lavish displays of wealth & style).
In a digitally connected world, such unique forms of culture may become common.
Will You Still Need a Passport in 2050?
The traditional concept of citizenship is undergoing a profound transformation.
Increased global mobility and the rise of transnational lifestyles are blurring the lines of citizenship and challenging the legal frameworks that inform governance structures, rights and responsibilities within the traditional nation state model.
As a result, citizenship is no longer rooted in where you were born, or even where you happen to live today. It is increasingly common for a person’s lifestyle to span multiple nations in a fluid, multi-regional existence categorised by global mobility.
Some innovative nations, like Estonia, are exploring the concept of "digital citizenship" and flexible residency programmes to attract global talent, rethinking bureaucratic processes, taxation mechanisms and legal frameworks to do so (such as creating tamper-proof digital identities using Blockchain to replace passports).
While there is still some way to go, the groundwork is already being done.
How will identity, and the politics of identity, evolve?
The digital divide- the gap between those who have access to digital technologies and those who do not- is profoundly affecting our politics and by extension our identities.
The “digitally connected” are able to connect with geographically dispersed communities, while the “disconnected” are marginalised from critical discourses. Diverse perspectives provide us with a richer understanding of the world, but a divided society without a commonly held “reality” suffers from a lack of cohesion.
As a result we are witnessing our nations becoming increasingly divided, with a portion that is actively engaged in cross-cultural assimilation and discussion and another portion rapidly receding into base and often dangerously exclusivist forms of identity (such as the rise of Christian Nationalism and Trumpism in the United States).
As the western world grapples with issues like identity politics, the legacy of colonialism and systemic racism, we are witnessing a resurgence in nationalism and increasing tensions around cultural heritage, national identity and global integration.
The future of identity does seem to be more fluid, global and self- governed, particularly as digital interconnectivity is on course to increase even further. Approaching the challenges that this will create to identity, and the politics of identity, requires a great of thoughtfulness, inclusively and conflict de- escalation.
Navigating a borderless world
As we navigate the complexities of world of unprecedented connectivity, our notions of identity, culture & citizenship will undergo transformative and seismic change.
We will no longer think of ourselves as being bounded by geographies or nation states and view the digital realm as our primary means of participation in the world’s affairs. And this will ultimately inform how we view ourselves and those around us- as well as how we engage with those on the other side of the digital divide.
We can expect our political, cultural and economic discourse to become increasingly strained as we argue on the basis of fundamentally different realities based on how we access information and participate in conversations of global significance.
As the idea of “networked-states” come closer to reality and the power of nation-states wane, we will need to look for inspiration from places like the UAE. Dubai in particular has been at the forefront of innovation in employment, tourism & travel, actively attracting global talent and investment during Covid and reshaping its citizenship model to prioritise economic & social dynamism above homogeneity.
As we witness the profound shifts in identity, culture, and citizenship that increased digitalisation and global connectivity result in, we need to proactively prepare to capitalise on the opportunities and address the challenges that come with it.
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