The Raging 2020s

The Raging 2020s examines the shifting balance of power between governments, citizens, and corporations in the modern era. Ross analyzes how traditional social contracts have eroded and what new arrangements might emerge to replace them. Through interviews with global leaders and executives, the book explores pressing challenges including technological disruption, economic inequality, and climate change. The narrative moves between historical context and present-day examples to map out potential futures for democracy, capitalism, and society. Ross draws from his experience as a technology advisor in the Obama administration to evaluate policy solutions and corporate reforms. The book presents case studies of companies and countries testing new approaches to governance, labor rights, and stakeholder capitalism. The work serves as both a diagnosis of systemic institutional failures and a blueprint for reconstructing the relationships between state, market, and civil society. Its central argument is that resolving 21st-century crises requires reimagining core power structures and social contracts.

Readers found the book offered clear explanations of complex economic and social issues affecting business-government relationships. Many appreciated Ross's use of specific company examples and historical context to illustrate key points. Readers liked: - Accessible writing style for complex topics - Balance between academic analysis and real-world examples - Forward-looking solutions and policy recommendations Readers disliked: - Some felt solutions were too optimistic/simplistic - Several noted redundant examples and repetitive sections - Critics said it focused too heavily on US perspective Review Scores: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (1,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (300+ ratings) Sample reader feedback: "Explains corporate-government tension without getting bogged down in jargon" - Amazon reviewer "Great at diagnosis, weaker on realistic fixes" - Goodreads reviewer "Could have condensed ideas into half the length" - Goodreads reviewer

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📚 Author Alec Ross served as Senior Advisor for Innovation to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, traveling to 41 countries to explore the intersection of technology, diplomacy, and national security. 🌐 The book examines how the social contract between citizens, businesses, and governments has broken down globally, using historical examples from Venice to Silicon Valley. 💡 Ross interviews over 100 people for the book, including the CEO of Unilever, the former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, and leaders of major labor unions. 🏢 The author traces how the modern corporate structure emerged from the East India Company in the 1600s, which became the world's first major multinational corporation. 📊 The book reveals that by 2019, 69 of the world's 100 largest economic entities were corporations rather than countries, with Walmart's revenues exceeding the GDP of Belgium.