L6 - Designing Governance Systems for Space Settlements Flashcards
1
Q
What was Thomas Hobbes’ vision?
A
The State of Nature.
- Solitary, poor, brutish
- Trade primitive freedom for government for peace, order and cooperation
- Without government we would revert to that
2
Q
Why is Thomas Hobbes wrong?
A
Groups of 15-200 people.
- Alike people within groups
- Nomadic, peacful, egalitarian, bountiful
- Living in subsistance, without “working”
3
Q
How and why did we leave this primitive non-governed life?
A
- Populations exceeded environmental carrying capacity
- Need to find new resources and technology. Horticulture + land ownership, hierarchies, conquest + slavery.
- Civilization arose, rural suport urban hub, centralized ruler, bureaucracy, formal military, organised religion
- Vast empires with areas and population thanks to writing.
- Nation state and international system. From the interest of industrial, middle class against land owning monarchs, nobles and clergy. Representative government and majority rule so that new class people govern themselve.
4
Q
What are the various forms of government?
A
- Parliments (better)
- Presidentialist
5
Q
What is wrong with today’s governments?
A
Participation is futile and frastrating, voting is largely symbolic.
6
Q
What technologies could be used for future governance?
A
- Electronic communication
- Electronic direct democracy
7
Q
Give the elements of possible future governance systems?
A
- Direct administration + direct adjudication
- Self-governance
- Self-organized
- Patriarchal + Matriarchal
8
Q
Which is more effective? Will or Structure?
A
Structure!
Governance should facilitate the “right” behaviors rather than relying on good people with good intentions.
Governance in space shouldn’t be based on 200 years old systems.
9
Q
Summary of Governance lecture?
A
- Evolution of government
- Forms of government
- Possible future systsm of government
- Roadblocks to governmence
