Suleyman contends that nation-states offer a promise to their citizens: that the benefits of centralizing power outweigh the risks. This bargain gives the state central control over law enforcement and military might in exchange for keeping the peace and enabling productivity and prosperity. Suleyman claims that people take for granted this delicate balance, and that the coming wave threatens to upset it.

Nation-states, Suleyman argues, are humanity’s only hope for containing the oncoming wave, but they are currently fragile. Democracy has regressed and nationalism and authoritarianism have risen globally; since 2010, more countries have slid backward on measures of democracy than have progressed. Trust in government, especially in America, has been eroded. This distrust, Suleyman says, is fueled by rising social resentment and inequality, especially across Western nations. He notes that there is a strong correlation between social immobility, widening inequality, and political violence—when people feel trapped, they grow increasingly angry, resentful, and violent.

Suleyman notes that while some people argue that technology is value neutral, he believes that technology is inherently political since it is one of the key determinants of history. The coming wave threatens the modern, liberal, democratic, industrialized nation-state at a time when these political entities are most needed.