Economist Daron Acemoğlu, Professor at MIT, is able to explain the processes, developments and changes of many countries and regions in a simple, understandable way and without complicating it with economic terms by using political, economic and historical examples. The sentence he uttered below is an important sentence that indicates that politics and economics cannot be considered independent of history.
"Historical processes create differences that may matter at critical junctures through institutional drift. This is why history is so important. Critical junctures are themselves turning points of historical transformation. The vicious circle and the virtuous circle also indicate that we need to learn history in order to understand the nature of historically structured institutional differences."
Among his most well-known and read books are "Why Nations Fail", "The Narrow Corridor", and "Power and Progress", which are also must-read masterpieces.
Why Nations Fail: : The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty
By Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson
I believe this is his most outstanding work. Why Nations Fail, analyzes the differences in economic and political development and provides examples from various countries and periods, arguing that political and economic institutions, rather than geography or culture, determine the fate of nations. One of the best books written in its field.
Rich Countries and Examples of Success
• USA: Inclusive institutions foster economic growth,
• England: The Industrial Revolution showed the importance of inclusive institutions,
• Japan, South Korea, Singapore: Examples of rapid economic growth,
• Canada, Australia, New Zealand: Increased prosperity through inclusive institutions.
Poor Countries and Extractive Institutions
• North Korea: The impact of extractive institutions is compared to South Korea.
• Egypt: Extractive institutions that cause poverty.
• Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo: Institutional causes of poverty in Africa.
• Afghanistan, Somalia: Lack of political centralization and economic problems.
Historical Examples
• Roman and Ottoman Empires: Historical impact of institutional structures.
• Inca, Aztec, Maya: The impact of extractive institutions on collapse.
• Soviet Union: Unsustainability of exploitative systems.
Examples from the Colonial Period
• Latin America: The exploitative structures of Spanish colonialism.
• Costa Rica and Nicaragua: Institutional differences.
The Narrow Corridor: States, Societies, and the Fate of Liberty
By Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson,
The book examines the formation, maintenance and loss of freedom within a historical and theoretical framework, and focuses on the balance between the State and society, arguing that freedom is possible in an environment where a strong state and a strong society monitor each other, and this is explained by the ideal structure called the "Shackled Leviathan".
Main Theme of the Book
• Freedom is achieved by striking a balance between the despotism of the state and the anarchy that comes with the absence of the state. The state must be strong, but this power must be controlled by society.
• The “Narrow Corridor” metaphor represents the delicate balance leading to freedom. Despotic states or stateless societies are outside the corridor. With the cooperation of a strong society and a limited state, this corridor can be stayed within.
Theoretical Framework
Leviathan: The basis for the analysis of state structures:
• Despotic Leviathan: Authoritarian state that oppresses society.
• Absent Leviathan: An anarchic environment in which the state is ineffective.
• Shackled Leviathan: The ideal state that is powerful but can be controlled by society.
• Red Queen Effect: It is a dynamic process in which the state and society strengthen each other.
Examples and Historical Analysis
The book presents examples from different geographies and periods:
• Ancient Greece: Power limiting mechanisms.
• USA: The process of entering a narrow corridor with social mobility.
• China: An example of the Despotic Leviathan.
• Türkiye: Criticism for missing the opportunity to enter the corridor.
• Sweden: Successful implementations of the Shackled Leviathan.
Narrow Corridor is a comprehensive study that invites us to rethink the concept of freedom through state-society relations. The book offers a broad perspective with historical and theoretical analyses and is a rich resource for those interested in political science, economics and history.
Power and Progress: Our Thousand-Year Struggle Over Technology and Prosperity By Daron Acemoğlu and Simon Johnson
The book is a comprehensive study examining the effects of technology on power relations throughout history, and argues that technological advances have not always been for the benefit of society, but have often been controlled by elites who hold power, which has increased inequality. The authors emphasize the need for democratization of technology and offer suggestions on how to build a more just and inclusive future.
Main Themes of the Book
1. The Relationship Between Technology and Power:
Throughout history, technological innovations have often served the interests of those in power rather than the common good. From the Middle Ages to the Industrial Revolution, examples are given of how the church, aristocracy, and other elites used technology to consolidate their own power. Today, how large technology companies (e.g. Apple, Google, Amazon) shape economic and political power is discussed.
2. Social Impacts of Technology:
While it is emphasized that technological advances can lead to unemployment, income inequality and social divisions, the negative effects of artificial intelligence and automation on the workforce are discussed. While there was a period in which social democratic policies directed technology to benefit the wider masses after World War II, it is stated that neoliberal policies reversed this situation from the 1970s onwards.
3. Democratization and Technology:
While arguing that technology should be democratized, they propose three basic strategies for this:
• Changing the narrative: Dispelling the misconception that technology is synonymous with progress.
• Strengthening opposing forces: Supporting structures such as civil society organizations, unions and activist groups.
• Developing policy solutions: Implementing policies such as a digital ad tax, data ownership rights, and regulations protecting worker rights.
Historical Examples
• Alan Turing and World War II: While Turing's work in the field of cryptography affected the outcome of the war, the use of technology in the military field,
• Industrial Revolution: Unemployment problems and unequal distribution of wealth emerged as machines replaced workers,
• China's Artificial Intelligence Applications: China's use of technologies such as social monitoring systems as a tool of authoritarian control is exemplified.
Power and Technology is an important resource for those who want to understand the impact of technology on social inequalities. The book offers readers a broad perspective with both its historical perspective and the in-depth analysis it brings to current debates. However, it is also clear that more discussion is needed on the feasibility of the transformation strategies proposed by the authors. This work can be useful in providing a strong intellectual foundation, especially for readers interested in the relationship between technology, economy and politics.
Comments