# The Crisis of Authority in the New Millennium

**URL:** <https://www.libertarianism.org/podcasts/free-thoughts/the-crisis-of-authority-in-the-new-millennium>

**By** Martin Gurri, Aaron Ross Powell, Trevor Burrus

**Published:** August 11, 2014

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Martin Gurri says that a new wave of media in the 21st-century has eroded the legitimacy of political authority around the world.

What does this "Fifth Wave" mean for democracy? Is this a change libertarians should feel good about? Will it lead to more freedom?

**Show Notes and Further Reading**

Martin Gurri, [_The Revolt of the Public and the Crisis of Authority in the New Millennium_](http://www.amazon.com/Revolt-Public-Crisis-Authority-Millennium-ebook/dp/B00KQMVOPM/) (book)

A selection from the book is available here: ["How a Tsunami of Information Inspired the Revolt of the Public"](https://www.libertarianism.org/essays/how-tsunami-information-inspired-revolt-public)

James C. Scott, [_Seeing Like a State: How Certain Schemes to Improve the Human Condition Have Failed_](http://www.amazon.com/Seeing-like-State-Certain-Condition/dp/0300078153/) (book)

Martin Gurri blogs at [The Fifth Wave](http://thefifthwave.wordpress.com/).