The Network State: The Book That Started It All

​Why are we here?
Here, in Forest City, in this community, living this experiment.

​There's a book behind all of this. A blueprint that Balaji wrote in 2022 that planted the seed for Network School, for the popup city movement, for a couple of special economic zones. Dozens of experiments happening right now around the world.

​If you haven't read it, this session will give you the essential frameworks. If you have read it, we'll go deeper and connect it to what's actually being built.

​What We'll Cover

​PART 1 — The Book

​The core concepts that make a network state possible:

​→ The 4 evolutionary stages: Startup Society → Network Union → Network Archipelago → Network State → The 7 practical steps to build one → The "One Commandment" — why moral innovation matters more than money → Why missionary communities outlast mercenary ones → Cloud first, land later: the principle we're living right now

​PART 2 — What's Actually Happening

​An eagle's flight over the ecosystem being built as we speak:

​→ Special Economic Zones: Próspera and other legal experiments → Popup cities: Zuzalu, Vitalia, Edge City, Ipê City: the "testnets" for permanent communities → Network School: where we fit in all of this

​A Note on Focus

​We've already heard Balaji's updated geopolitical views in his talks. This session focuses entirely on the practical aspects of Network Societies, what's being built, and what you can do with these ideas.

​Who Should Come

​→ You haven't read the book → You've read it but want to discuss with others → You're thinking about building your own community someday

​Format

​Presentation + open discussion, one hour sharp

​Resources

​📕 The book (free): thenetworkstate.com

​See you at the library!