Neo-Feudalism: Are today’s workers free agents or modern-day serfs?

Neo-feudalism, corporate power and the gig economy: Are we truly free, or are we the modern-day serfs of global corporations?

In this episode of Doha Debates, we explore how today’s largest corporations concentrate data, wealth and influence, and what this means for the global workforce. Join a thought-provoking discussion on whether today’s workers are free agents or controlled by the new lords of industry.

This episode of Doha Debates was moderated by journalist Imran Garda and produced in partnership with the Al Jazeera Media Network. It was filmed in Doha, Qatar, in May 2025.

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In this episode:
Yanis Varoufakis: Economics Professor, Leader of MeRA25
Daniel Susskind: Economist, Author, Academic
Evgeny Morozov: Theorist and Publisher, The Syllabus
Nanjira Sambuli: Tech Policy Researcher and Analyst

⏰⏰ Chapters ⏰⏰

0:00 Intro
2:24 Defining Capitalism
7:38 Debating Cloud Capital
11:52 Economic Power of Large Companies
15:06 How Big Tech Profits
19:08 Semantics
24:16 Technological Stagnation
30:24 Collective Discretion
34:58 Personal Experience
40:00 Cynical Push Back on Capitalism
45:01 Case for Capitalism
49:57 Student Discussion of Debate
1:12:17 Students Join Guests
1:17:01 Democratizing Work
1:20:01 Less Freedom Than Serfs?
1:24:50 Situation We Face Today
1:29:50 Cost of Technological Progress
1:34:28 Closing Remarks

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