第九屆網絡社會年會開幕致詞與世界工廠預告片發布

Let’s be clear: they’re focused on “shareholders” rather than “stakeholders.”

完整年會活動回顧可見此，主題演講整理將陸續發布。今天只共享開幕致詞與世界工廠預告片的發布。這也可代表網絡社會研究所半年多以來的初步成果呈現。

11/8 开幕致辞 Opening Remarks

黄孙权教授
中国美术学院网络社会研究所 所長
Prof.Huang Sunquan
Director The Institute of Network Society

各位早上好！能够在美丽的清迈、清迈大学的校园里相聚，真是一个奇妙的时刻。我想向远道而来的讲者们表达由衷的感谢，也感谢无法亲临现场、在线上参加的讲者们。当然，特别感谢清迈大学和ICDI的协助，使这一切成为可能。我还要感谢GCC对我们拓展公共项目的支持。这一周，这座城市充满活力，举办了超过百场活动——在这里，科技、知识和文化以令人惊叹的方式交融、演变。能够参与这场热烈的交流，深感荣幸。

今年是我们网络社会年会的第九年。每年我们都深入探讨与社会现实相关的主题，并邀请学者、艺术家、策展人和研究人员与我们一同探讨。

今年，我们来到了全球南方。长期以来，这个地区被北方/中心的技术和资本深刻穿透，掌控着发展的节奏，导致了“慢性贫困”，正如萨米尔·阿明所说，这是依赖理论的受害者，一种“不发达的发展”。今天，流向南方未变，但增添了科技气质，由一群更为自由意志主义者的数字游民来继承六零年代嬉皮、七零年代美国的新公社主义者，九零年的新世纪旅行者的旅程。我一方面对此文化的丰富与多彩感到兴奋，但也不免忧虑，这种热带的天堂只是旧囚笼里的新梦想，难道还能禁锢一整代的年轻人理想吗？

某些加密社群喜爱的公关高手巴拉吉・斯里尼瓦桑（Balaji Srinivasan）说的”网络国家”几乎变成了他们的圣经，听起来就像要抹除现实中更深刻不平等起源的私有花园。要搞清楚，他们关心的是股份持有者（shareholder），而不是利益关系者（stakeholder）。也不要忘了，从2008年以来（金融灾难与比特币开始的那一年），全球财富收入不平等加剧，2020年全球最富有的12.2%成年人拥有84.9%的财富，2008年，前1%人群的收入份额约为18.5%；到2020年，该比例增至19.3%。

2024年诺贝尔经济学奖得主达隆·阿西莫格鲁和西蒙·强森，在他们的著作《权力与进步》中指出，当前的“进步”再次让少数精英企业家和投资者受益，而大多数人却感到无力。他们认为，只有在社会权力基础改变的情况下，更包容的技术的愿景才有可能实现。而这正是我所期望的——全球南方能成为推动社会变革和包容性技术的全球多数力量。我希望这一转变能从清迈开始，甚至能从接下来两天的对话开始。

再次感谢大家！

Good morning, everyone! It feels truly magical to be here in beautiful Chiang Mai, right here on the campus of Chiang Mai University. I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our speakers who’ve traveled from afar to be here, as well as those joining us online. And of course, a big thank you to Chiang Mai University and the ICDI for making all of this possible. I’d also like to thank GCC for supporting us in expanding our public initiatives. This week, this city is alive with over a hundred events—where technology, knowledge, and culture are mixing and evolving in extraordinary ways. It’s a privilege to contribute to this vibrant exchange. 

This is the ninth year for our Annual Conference of Network Society. Each year, we delve into topics connected to our social realities, inviting scholars, artists, curators, and researchers to explore them with us.

This year, we have come to the Global South—a region initially defined geographically but now deeply embedded in political and economic discourse. For decades, it has been penetrated and controlled by Northern/central technology and capital, leading to chronic poverty—a manifestation of Samir Amin’s dependency theory, where the Global South endures a “development of underdevelopment.” The flows remain unchanged, but the cultural spirit here has evolved, now inheriting from ’60s hippies, ’70s communitarians, and ’90s New Age travelers, a new wave of digital nomads, with a more libertarian ethos, has taken up this legacy. I am excited by this cultural richness and diversity, I find this diverse culture exhilarating, but I’m also concerned: is this tropical paradise just an old cage of dreams, one that risks entrapping an entire generation’s ideals?

Balaji Srinivasan, the game player and PR darling of some crypto circles, proposed “network state” has almost become their bible. which sounds like a private paradise for those seeking to erase the origins of real-world inequalities. Let’s be clear: they’re focused on “shareholders” rather than “stakeholders.” Since 2008—starting with the financial crisis and the birth of Bitcoin—income inequality has only worsened. By 2020, the richest 12.2% of adults held 84.9% of global wealth. In 2008, the top 1% held 18.5% of all income; by 2020, that figure rose to 19.3%.

The 2024 Nobel Laureates in Economic Sciences Daron Acemoglu and Simon Johnson pointed out in Power and Progress, today’s “progress” is again enriching a tiny elite of entrepreneurs and investors while most people feel disempowered. They argue that a more inclusive vision of technology can only emerge if the basis of social power changes. And that’s what I’m hoping for—that the Global South becomes the Global majority force for social changes and a driver of inclusive technology. I hope this transformation can start here in Chiang Mai, maybe even with the conversations we’ll have over the next two days.Thank you all very much again!

文化与技术三部曲 Ⅱ《深圳 世界工厂｜一座创新现实主义之城》预告片

Shenzhen: The World Factory | A City of Innovative Realism, Trailer