Alexander C. Karp

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

24:16 min
Business, Politics, Technology
320 pages, 2025

Silicon Valley has forgotten its origins. In this examination of America's dangerous technological drift, Alexander C. Karp argues that our brightest minds now build trivial apps while China develops military AI. This work reveals how loss of moral courage, rejection of aesthetic judgment, and abandonment of national purpose have eroded Western technological leadership. As one of the most influential figures in tech, Karp outlines a path forward: reconnect technology with national interests, embrace creative tension in organizations, and restore the founder-led innovation model that outperforms consensus leadership. This urgent wake-up call demonstrates why preserving democracy requires the software industry to reclaim its role addressing critical challenges rather than chasing consumer markets.

Alexander C. Karp

Alexander C. Karp is the co-founder and CEO of Palantir Technologies, a company that builds software for defense, intelligence agencies, and commercial clients addressing complex data challenges. With a Ph.D. in neoclassical social theory from Frankfurt University, Karp has positioned himself at the intersection of technology, national security, and philosophy while advocating for stronger partnerships between Silicon Valley and government institutions. His unique perspective combines technological expertise with political theory, allowing him to analyze the moral and strategic implications of Silicon Valley's evolving relationship with national security.

Chapters

Silicon Valley originated from military-government partnerships but abandoned this tradition for consumer markets, forgetting its roots in national security and technological advancement for the public good.
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Cover of The Technological Republic: Hard Power, Soft Belief, and the Future of the West