Archipelago, and the information platform that is the state
A political philosophy based on information and its processing

LOADING IMAGES
This book outlines a new political philosophy that is based on information and its processing.
Aristotelians will appreciate the analysis; those siding with Plato (there are only two kinds of people, as Coleridge said), less so. In essence, it supports Aristotle’s argument by complementing his intuitively correct but unsupported and never fully elaborated claim that states are natural to humans. It corrects Plato and his epigones (practically every political philosopher ever since) by refuting their claim (considered a given today) that states are artificial, the product of agreement among humans.
It is based on only two basic, and straightforward, premises. Therefore, understanding it (but not necessarily appreciating it—for that one has to follow the order of things) can be achieved in anything from a few minutes (see only Chapters 7 and 19) to a few hours (add Chapters 8, 9 and 11), a few days (Chapter 7 onwards) or a few months and beyond (read also Chapters 1–6). Each chapter is independently written specifically for this purpose, and therefore, there is some repetition. Notes (only paragraphs marked with an asterisk are annotated, at the end of the book) are there to help explain—but they do add considerably to the times just promised.
Additional material
Note. This page collects essays, posts, and talks related to Archipelago as the project evolves. Once the book is published, it is the authoritative statement; earlier pieces that diverge should be read as superseded by the book.
Key essays (start here)
- [Chapter] States as information platforms: A political theory of information — In Data protection and privacy: Ideas that drive our digital world, 2024.
- [Article] States as platforms following the EU regulations on online platforms — European View, 2022.
All other essays & chapters (full list)
-
- [Chapter] Digital constitutionalism in the states-as-platforms context: A new programme, the acknowledgement of 'platform rights' — In Digital constitutionalism, 2025.
- [Article] The cybersecurity obligations of states perceived as platforms: Are current European national cybersecurity strategies enough? — ACIG, 2022.
Blog posts
- [Blog] The (new) role of states in a states-as-platform approach — January 2023.
- [Blog] States as platforms under new EU (online platforms') law — July 2022.
Talks & media
- [Talk] Novel concepts in digital states and their structures — CPDP2023, May 2023 (from 00:30).