From DOGE to Subsea Cables: Global Infrastructures and Corporate Control
A Conversation with Dr Andrew Dougall
Well, at least you can’t say research on Silicon Valley isn’t relevant . . . After a whirlwind few weeks, from Trump’s inauguration to Elon Musk’s attempted takeover at the Treasury, it sure is a good time to talk about digital infrastructures, right?!
In this episode, I caught up with Andrew Dougall, a departmental lecturer in international relations at Oxford University. We discussed Andrew’s work on global infrastructures and corporate control in the international system, from DOGE to subsea cables. So what exactly are global infrastructures? Who, historically, has built them (spoiler alert: its companies)? Are platform companies like Meta and Twitter really so unique, or do builders and controlled of networked infrastructure always have political power? And have either states or empires ever really have the ability to control them?
Be sure to take a listen!
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What I’m Reading
HERE AT DOGE, WE’VE STREAMLINED EVERY ASPECT OF AMERICA’S COLLAPSE (Satire)
A 25-Year-Old With Elon Musk Ties Has Direct Access to the Federal Payment System
The Department of Education Told Employees to End Support for Transgender Students
The Elite Lawyers Working for Elon Musk’s DOGE Include Former Supreme Court Clerks
Apple ordered to open encrypted user accounts globally to UK spying
DOGE Teen Owns ‘Tesla.Sexy LLC’ and Worked at Startup That Has Hired Convicted Hackers
Doge staffers enter Noaa headquarters and incite reports of cuts and threats
Why the water Trump ordered released in California won't help Los Angeles firefighting