Short Abstract:

This track explores new forms of creating controversies and intellectual debate outside established academic formats. Tthe track proposes a series of sessions organized around a political fiction in which the executive committee of an unnamed country is summoned to solve an impending crisis

Long Abstract:

This track aims to explore and test new forms of creating controversies and intellectual debate outside established academic formats. Departing from the usual presentation of papers, the track proposes a series of sessions organized around a political fiction in which the executive committee of an unnamed country is summoned to solve an impending crisis. The fiction will be enacted by the members of the executive committee (represented by the organizers of this track); the audience (who will play an active role as the staff of the executive committee); and a series of experts (who will provide guidance to the executive committee and its staff).

The fiction we propose for this cabinet is: It is the year 2054, and thanks to advances in algorithmic technology and AI, it has now become technically possible to fully automate democratic decision-making processes. After successfully testing different computer-generated models, a prototype called "SIMULACRUM©" now requires conducting a real live experiment to test the governance models produced in the lab in order to produce verifiable and replicable results. The metropolis of Hereandnow has been selected as the pilot case to deploy SIMULACRUM©. The Cabinet is summoned to a) decide which areas of city governance will be handed over to SIMULACRUM© b) discuss the political models and systems that should be tested in this experiment, c) follow the initial implementation of the project and d) adjust the protocols of communication, cohabitation, and arbitrage between SIMULACRUM© and humans, as well as their respective rights and obligations.