Future Politics

Matthew d'Ancona, Books of the Year 2018, Evening Standard The most interesting exploration yet of the political realities in the digital era.


Bryan Appleyard, The Sunday Times He steers a course to the future that is as convincing as it is shocking.


Raphael Behr, The Guardian An impressive feat of intellectual organization ... To have written it all down so lucidly, engagingly and succinctly is a formidable achievement.


Robert Rinder Evening Standard A work of clarity and effortless genius which is a must for anybody seeking to understand the impact of modern technology on our body politic now and in the future.



Tim Stanley, The Telegraph [Susskind] has tremendous talent and the book is very readable.


Paschal Donohoe, The Irish Times The tone of this book is as refreshing as the originality of insight. Susskind contends that "that there are causes for both optimism and pessimism, but what the future requires above all is vigilance.


Catherine Balavage, Frost Future Politics is a riveting book that sparkles with great ideas ... It is chock full of facts and the book combines knowledge of politics and technology in a unique and fascinating way.


Nick Cohen, The Observer Superb and necessary book.


Wavell Room Future Politics should be essential reading for those with the will to anticipate the future challenges facing defence and society.


Jamie Bartlett, Catholic Herald Brilliant ... detailed research, colourful examples, and a pacy, upbeat style ... Future Politics will remain relevant for several years. All elected officials should read it as a matter of urgency.


Dominic Lenton, Engineering & Technology Future Politics challenges readers to rethink what it means to be free or equal, what it means to have power or property, what it means for a political system to be just or democratic, and proposes ways in which we can - and must - regain control. This is no less than a call for a fundamental change in the way we think about politics.


David Patrikarakos, Literary Review ...rigorous and thoughtful book ...


Paradigm Explorer Brilliant and ground-breaking ... It is essential reading for anyone who wants to get to grips with the profound and far-reaching impacts of digital technology on politics.

Gordon Brown, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 2007-2010 Original and thought-provoking, this ground-breaking book challenges us to develop new policies for new times.


Lawrence Lessig, Roy L. Furman Professor of Law and Leadership, Harvard Law School Few understand politics. Even fewer understand technology. Susskind is that rare soul who understands both - and more importantly, how the latter will change the former. Whether correct or not - and I believe he is correct - there is no better glimpse into our shared future than this book.


Lord Finkelstein, Associate Editor, The Times This book crackles with ideas, sparking new...

Jamie Susskind is a former Fellow at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University and is a practising barrister qualified in England and Wales. Before coming to the Bar, Jamie worked in politics, including for Tony Blair (2008) and the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy (2009), who commended Jamie's 'outstanding work' in the Congressional Record.

Introduction Part I. THE DIGITAL LIFEWORLD 1: Increasingly Capable Systems 2: Increasingly Integrated Technology 3: Increasingly Quantified Society 4: Thinking Like a Theorist Part II. FUTURE POWER 5: Code is Power 6: Force 7: Scrutiny 8: Perception-Control 9: Public and Private Power Part III. FUTURE LIBERTY 10: Freedom and the Supercharged State 11: Freedom and the Tech Firm Part IV. FUTURE DEMOCRACY 12: The Dream of Democracy 13: Democracy in the Future Part V. FUTURE JUSTICE 14: Algorithms of Distribution 15: Algorithms of Recognition 16: Algorithmic Injustice 17: Technological Unemployment 18: The Wealth Cyclone Part VI. FUTURE POLITICS 19: Transparency and the New Separation of Powers 20: Post-Politics