The Technological Republic: Hard Power, Soft Belief, and the Future of the West

Discover a critical examination of the West's current trajectory in The Technological Republic: Hard Power, Soft Belief, and the Future of the West. This INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER and AN NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR offers a sweeping indictment of complacency within the West, arguing that timid leadership and an unambitious view of technology's potential have left the U.S. vulnerable.

Once, brilliant engineering minds collaborated with government to advance world-changing technologies, securing the West's dominant place. Today, that relationship has eroded. The market now rewards shallow engagement, with engineers building apps that serve others' ambitions. This complacency has permeated academia, politics, and boardrooms, leading to a narrow pursuit of late capitalist demands.

From Palantir co-founder Alexander C. Karp and Nicholas W. Zamiska, this groundbreaking treatise critiques the abandonment of ambition. It argues that for the U.S. and its allies to retain their global edge and preserve freedoms, the software industry must renew its commitment to urgent challenges, including the artificial intelligence arms race. The government must embrace effective engineering mindsets, and leaders must reject intellectual fragility.

This rigorous work also lifts the veil on Palantir's political project, offering a passionate call for the West to confront its new reality and embrace the principles of Hard Power and Soft Belief.