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Cash Burning Machine: Uber’s Logic of Planetary Expansion
- Author(s):
- Luke Munn (see profile)
- Date:
- 2019
- Subject(s):
- Imperialism
- Item Type:
- Article
- Tag(s):
- network effects, platform, Territory, uber, Cultural imperialism
- Permanent URL:
- http://dx.doi.org/10.17613/ygg4-qj78
- Abstract:
- Uber’s programme of planetary expansion rapidly captures users and integrates cities. Like other platforms, Uber privileges growth at all costs in order to spin up a set of self-reinforcing dynamics like virtuous cycles and network effects. However, drawing on Arrighi, Hobson, and Arendt, Uber can also be understood as a contemporary incarnation of imperialism. Platforms extend their territories in a programme of aggressive expansion rationalized by future financial gains. The article combines these self-perpetuating technical dynamics with the self-expanding logics of empire. Against the assumed brilliance of founders and the strategic innovation of start-ups, this framing highlights some of the uncontrolled forces and overarching imperatives that both invest and constrain platforms.
- Metadata:
- xml
- Published as:
- Journal article Show details
- Pub. DOI:
- https://doi.org/10.31269/triplec.v17i2.1097
- Publisher:
- Information Society Research
- Pub. Date:
- 2019-7-15
- Journal:
- tripleC: Communication, Capitalism & Critique. Open Access Journal for a Global Sustainable Information Society
- Volume:
- 17
- Issue:
- 2
- Page Range:
- 1 - 17
- ISSN:
- 1726-670X,1726-670X
- Status:
- Published
- Last Updated:
- 3 years ago
- License:
- All Rights Reserved
- Share this:
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