The Republic of Innovation - by Andrea Lorenzo Capussela

Book Synopsis

We cling to a distorted idea of freedom. To be free, we commonly think, means to be unconstrained. This widespread belief makes our societies less fair, as it fails to confront that freedom to act can mean freedom to dominate. But, as Andrea Capussela argues in this highly original combination of philosophy and economics, that is not all: it also makes us less prosperous.

True freedom, Capussela writes, arises when no one is subject to another's will, be that the will of an employer, Big Tech, or the so-called elite. A society that strives toward this ideal will become more innovative, as increasing numbers of people are granted enough security to flourish, experiment, and take risks. Capussela intertwines political philosophy with cutting-edge theories of economic growth, presenting the synergy between them as the basis for political programmes that can help western democracies rise above the legacy of neoliberalism and overcome their crisis.

Review Quotes

"This imaginative and illuminating study documents the importance of the view of freedom as non-domination for an economic and political appreciation of the prerequisites of innovation. Essential reading for anyone interested in how our societies may be improved."
Philip Pettit, Princeton University, Australian National University and author of Republicanism

"A powerful critique of the asymmetries of economic and political power that threaten equity and prosperity. Capussela's compelling vision of republican non-domination shows how to build a better future. An essental book for our troubled times."
Martin Daunton, University of Cambridge and author of The Economic Government of the World: 1933-2023

"Andrea Capussela dares us to imagine a future in which all citizens can prosper as self-governing individuals. A bracing argument that integrates political theory and political economy in highly original ways."
Gary Gerstle, University of Cambridge and author of The Rise and Fall of the Neoliberal Order

About the Author

Andrea Lorenzo Capussela is a Visiting Fellow in the Department of Government at the London School of Economics and Political Science.