New Book Argues Nation-State Obsolete, Proposes Blockchain-Powered Cyberstates

Logos Press Engine has announced the release of "Farewell to Westphalia: Crypto Sovereignty and Post-Nation-State Governance," a new book by Jarrad Hope and Peter Ludlow. The publication, which became available in print and online on September 18, posits that the 1648 governance model of the modern nation-state is no longer suitable for contemporary digital realities, advocating for a new political model enabled by blockchain technology. HackerNoon, a technology learning platform, announced the release on social media, stating: > "Logos Press Engine has announced the release of 'Farewell to Westphalia: - https://t.co/P7zdnawpiB #web3 #chainwire."

The book's central thesis, authored by Jarrad Hope, Founder of Logos, and Peter Ludlow, Director of the Research Institute for Philosophy and Technology, introduces the concept of "cyberstates." These are defined as new political entities built around blockchain technology and voluntary digital communities, designed to address increasingly global issues and foster trust, accountability, and civil liberties. The authors argue that blockchain can reduce corruption and the power of unelected intermediaries.

Cyberstates, a concept first explored by early cypherpunk communities, are envisioned as online communities that perform functions traditionally associated with nation-states, such as providing security, healthcare, and supporting business. Unlike traditional nation-states, they are organized around shared values and voluntary membership, geographically unencumbered, with their territory defined by their "footprint in cyberspace." All governance activities within these cyberstates would be conducted using blockchain technology, ensuring complete transparency.

Jarrad Hope, a pioneering blockchain developer and early Ethereum contributor, founded Logos to build digital systems protecting civil liberties and supporting future cyberstates. Peter Ludlow is a philosopher specializing in linguistics, digital technologies, and virtual communities, known for editing "Crypto Anarchy, Cyberstates, and Pirate Utopias." Their collaboration offers a timely and provocative roadmap as governments worldwide face declining public trust and the complexities of digital governance.

"Farewell to Westphalia" is published under a Creative Commons license, encouraging free remixing, redistribution, translation, and copying with attribution to the authors. The book is anticipated to be a significant contribution to ongoing discussions about governance in the digital age, particularly for those interested in the intersection of technology, politics, and human freedom.