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....innovation thrives wherever there is freedom in society

by Matt Ridley

Matt Ridley has recently published an important book How Innovation Works, tracking the evolution of innovation, highlighting it as a 'bottom up' and natural process, rather than a 'top down' controlled process.

Importantly he stresses the ongoing battle throughout history between the 'chiefs, priests and thieves' on the one hand who wish to control the general population through eliminating creativity and change, and the game changers on the other hand who have a burning desire to explore the unknown.

He emphasises that we cannot take innovation for granted as civilisation has seen many dark periods punctuated by burning books, witches and buildings that may threaten the status quo and power structures.

Most importantly he shows us how innovation thrives wherever there is freedom in society, and how the growing populist and totalitarian movements and countries represent a very real danger.

There are important lessons to be drawn from this for leaders around the world. To survive the perfect storm of pandemics, the cancer of totalitarianism, and the existential threat of the pending environment crisis, we need to foster and grow the game changers in both organisations and government. This is a battle that can only be won through genuine freedom and the essential innovation that it spawns.

Here is part one of an excellent interview between Matt Ridley and Naval Ravikant the Silicon Valley guru.