If we want to achieve our ideals, our ideals are what must lead us.

This is the simple essence of Cyberocracy, which literally means ‘rule by way of information.’ It is not rule by computers, although they are powerful information-processing tools.

Image: Simplified depiction of Cyberocracy

True Cyberocracy has no hierarchical power structure. Primitive Cyberocacy is already implemented in successful Anarchist societies – major political decisions are consented to following discussion. Decision-making power lies purely in the successful exchange of information.

Political systems are not Cyberocratic just because they use information processing technology to help with decision-making but still have a presiding government, all they’re doing is automating the traditional decision-making process of thought and discussion, and every major government already uses a calculator!

That being said, the maxim that there’s no perfect political system holds true for Cyberocracy, not just because of the challenge of consensus rule, but because likely for the foreseeable future some degree of power imbalance will remain unavoidable and we’ll still have to put faith in each other to not abuse it. The point of Cyberocracy is to, as much as possible, shorten that leap of faith. Balancing power and making the system “fair” will

“Voluntary” Association

In Anarchist circles, there’s a popular belief that it’s possible to have societies whose members voluntarily join or abandon, as such these societies can have any culture, rules, or leadership-style without violating its members’ freedom. However, children cannot consent to being born into a particular society, and any non-consensus decision-making is still tyrannical as it imposes the will of some onto others.

Implementing Cyberocracy