Silicon Valley’s Reactionary Roots
In the 1990s, critics warned of a creeping reactionary fervor in Silicon Valley, warning that the tech industry’s worship of male power could lead to “technofascism.” George Gilder, a vocal social conservative and investor, played a key role in shaping the industry’s reactionary attitudes.
Gilder’s ideology emphasized the importance of unlimited male power, entrepreneurship, and the nuclear family. He claimed that entrepreneurs were the most moral and benevolent people in society, as they put products into the world without a guarantee of return and reinvested profit back into the economy. He also argued that men were biologically and socially more suited to entrepreneurship than women, and that a societal emphasis on entrepreneurship could help restore traditional gender roles.
Gilder’s ideas were widely influential, and his 1981 book Wealth and Poverty became known as the Bible of the Reagan administration. The book’s popularity led to a surge in popularity of the “Gilder effect,” where investors followed his stock recommendations. Reagan’s praise for entrepreneurship further legitimized the concept, using it to justify trickle-down economics and cuts to federal welfare programs.
The “pussification” of tech, as Gilder put it, was further amplified by publications such as Upside, which ran a cover story lamenting the industry’s loss of masculine traits. This was accompanied by efforts from CEOs such as TJ Rodgers, who publicly rejected calls for diversity and called out perceived threats to male dominance.
This reactionary fervor was not limited to Silicon Valley, but rather had a national and international scope. It contributed to the growth of the conservative movement, including the rise of politicians like Reagan.
Fast forward to the present day, and we see the same reactionary forces at play. The likes of Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and others have built on the foundations laid by Gilder and his contemporaries. The rejection of “political correctness” and the reassertion of male dominance have become defining features of the tech industry.
As the tech industry continues to shape global society, it is crucial to recognize the reactionary roots of Silicon Valley and the impact they have on our politics and culture. The rise of reactionary forces in tech is not an anomaly, but rather a continuation of the same trends that have shaped the industry for decades.