The Digital Revolution in a Historical Perspective

The coincidence and interaction between political and technological revolutions have resulted in epoch-changing social, political, and economic developments on three occasions over the past 500 years: the Renaissance and Reformation with the invention of print and weapons technology, the French and American revolutions with the industrial revolution, and the collapse of communism with the information revolution. Each boast their specific attributes but follow a pattern which can assist us in understanding the implications of today’s technologies for our social and political structures.