The generation of our time was loaded down with a burden of fate as was hardly any other in the course of history.

— Stefan Zweig

Cosmotechnics is the unification of the cosmos and the moral through technical activities, whether craft-making or art-making.

— Yuk Hui

Over the last three years, my work has called me to witness and think about the future of governance. To that end, I’ve developed a thesis that I’d like to “open source” in the spirit of ideation. This thesis is what I call the Fifth Estate.

The Fifth Estate is an emerging power that derives political, economic, and cultural legitimacy from a new spatial order: the Internet (aka the Network). Through its production and distribution of alternative media, information, technology and digital assets, this power has the potential to reframe traditional notions of sovereignty and global governance.

Currently, this power is dispersed and without political personhood or objectives. It is a contested space of divergent political and cultural mores, rather than a haven for common interests. Said otherwise, the Fifth Estate is already here, it is just unevenly coordinated.

The Fifth Estate is not yet a legitimate power on the world stage. But it should be. Making sure it becomes one is one of the greatest political opportunities this century, and is key to addressing the crises of international security, political dysfunction, and technology affecting our world.

This essay is far from a full treatment of the ideas proposed below. Criticisms, rebuttals, and suggestions are welcome.