But modern technology also has implications for well-established democracies. It is far more difficult to generate social consensus and to govern in a world in which citizens can choose what they read, watch, and listen to, and with whom they talk.
这一趋势的一大结果是独裁政府越来越难以向从前那样将公民玩弄于股掌之间。毫无疑问，技术是我们现在所看到的阿拉伯世界起义爆发的原因之一。但现代技术对老牌民主国家同样具有影响。获得社会一致更加困难了，治理一个公民可以选择读什么、看什么、听什么、和谁说的世界难于上青天。