From potentiality to actuality

The distinction between potentiality and actuality is foundational in Western thought. In politics, ideas are transformed into reality through a fundamental mechanism of the system: institutions, and particularly the State.

Its evolution is that of law and history; it is therefore unlikely to come to an end. To understand the process in which we are immersed, it is worth reviewing its development.

It begins with what is called pre-law, in which magic and religion serve as direct normative sources; here, oath and faith play a central role. The emergence of the modern State occurs with Rome, under Emperor Constantine, influenced by Eusebius, one of the Fathers of the Church. This highly influential and powerful State is followed by positivism, which places the individual at the center of the scene, introducing the separation of powers and the rule of law. The final phase is that of a tutelary State, characteristic of social democracy.

We are witnessing a new cycle, with a morphology that is taking shape at breakneck speed on a global scale. Let us begin by defining what it is not: we can dismiss the destruction of the State. The notion of its shrinking is more of a dramatic, attention-grabbing maneuver than a true conviction. What emerges instead are three key elements that operate in sync, revealing one foot in pre-law and the other in the future, shaped by the latest technological advancements.

The first element is the State as a platform for control and manipulation of information, encompassing areas such as intelligence services and tax collection agencies. The objective ties back to classical sociology: the management of public opinion, which is ultimately what it is all about. Naturally, this has related implications, particularly in the form of high-profile accusations against press freedom, which serve as an initial point of contention.

The second element is a realm of freedom strictly confined to the economic sphere. While freedom of expression has been mentioned, what is actually taking place is a suspension of rights through discourse, particularly regarding acquired rights. The justification for this lies in a reaction against what is perceived as an excessive inflation of rights without a corresponding increase in obligations. The response is not to formally revoke these rights but to render them inoperative through rhetoric.

The third element is the emergence of a new morality imposed by the State, aligned with the shrinking of rights. It is not difficult to see how this mechanism operates: the management of public opinion through a new discourse, which finds direct institutional backing and ultimately results in a moral construct imposed on society.

It is not that the State disappears. It is a new State, a techno-State, which explains unexpected alliances with technological sectors interested in their market positions, and a transformation of the institutional order, including the international system and its multilateral organizations.

February 10th, 2025

February 10th, 2025

15 de enero de 2025

15 de enero de 2025