Oct 19, 2025
3 min read
The rest of the world's news: What we read, watch, research and eat, the headlines that cut our attention, and the social media we take.
What we read, watch, browse, and eat, the headlines that grab our attention, the social media posts that confirms our fears and biases, the pills we pop and the weapons armies use, all of that and much else is controlled by a few networks of big companies, They have far more influence that any govt. Yet we barely think about them. Biden talked of a tech-industrial complex. But that’s just one part of a story. Here’s a primer
Introduction The Biden administration ends with the shadow of a superpower looming over America's political horizon—not foreign adversaries, but networks of industrial powers undermining traditional government authority.These complexes—military, medicine, technology, fast food, news, and more—are not just dominant spheres;They are transcontinental giants with more power than most nation-states.As Trump prepares to assume the presidency, he is not inheriting a blank slate;He is inheriting this power, a global matrix of industries that operate across borders and beyond the reach of most governments.Their transnational dominance dispels the illusion that states remain the ultimate sovereign institutions.Instead, these complexes control supply chains, set the terms of trade, influence policy and shape the world's economies and cultures.Despite all the patriotic rhetoric, many countries, including the US, are now subject to these far-reaching forces – institutions that challenge the idea of the nation-state as the supreme form.
Some of the complexities of the industry and their goals (separated by the size of the market): the size of the technology
- A sector dominated by large tech companies, social media platforms and algorithm-driven businesses that benefit by manipulating user behavior.By designing systems that encourage addiction, exploit personal data and rely on dark patterns, the industrial city sustainable itself by reinforcing addiction and maximizing screen times.
- The combined market value of major technology companies (such as Apple, Microsoft, and Alphabet) often exceeds $10 trillion, but their annual revenues – and thus direct contribution to the global economy – are closer to $5-6 trillion.
- Moral complexity: While enabling unprecedented connectivity, innovation, and convenience, this complexity also benefits from exploiting user data, creating addictive platforms, and perpetuating the digital divide.Algorithms that promote polarizing content or harmful behavior may increase engagement, but it comes at a social cost.
- The best country
- The United States: home of technology giants such as Apple, Microsoft, Google and Amazon, leading innovations in software, cloud computing and artificial intelligence.
- China - With companies like Huawei, Alibaba, Tentedance, China dominates e-commerce, social media and communication infrastructure.
- South Korea: Semiconductor giants like Samsung and SK HINIX and leaders in mobile electronics and mobile technology, mobile technology.
Global military industrial complex
- Market size: $2.5 trillion per year
- A network of defense contractors, weapons manufacturers, and military service providers that benefit from the conflict.tensionand the global arms race that continues.Many countries prepare for or participate in wars.The more income from this, the more profitable it is.It creates incentives to support rather than resolve military conflicts.
- Moral complexity: Although many uses are corrected, the power of this industry increases with nations, tribes, and destruction.Murder, death, and destruction ensue, and the more money the complex produces.Therefore, some money will also go to peace and humanitarian missions.
- Gender and workforce dynamics: the majority of the global military industrial workforce is made up of young men, who are often recruited as teenagers – increasing risk-taking behavior.The influence of testosterone on decision making may explain some of the disparity and disproportionate number of men in related occupations.These demographic statements, Scott Galloway (a professor at the Stern School of Business at New York University), notes that they emphasize how the government is mobilizing young people to die for their nation.When examining the total workforce employed in all sectors of the military-industrial complex, the percentage of women is generally smaller than that of men.The exact proportion varies by country and role, with many occupying direct or frontline combat positions, administrative, medical and support positions in high-level environments.according to the woman who owns it.Testosterone imbalance Physiological factors, such as its role in risk support, contribute to the gender distribution in military-state affairs.
-Collect:
- United States: Largest defense navy and leader in advanced weapons systems.
- China: rapidly expanding its military capabilities, including naval assets, cyber defense and missile technology.
- Russia. The leading exporter of military equipment, known for advanced missile systems and air defense technologies.
Earthquakes and horns
- Market size: $2 trillion per year
- A conglomerate of media companies, streaming services, record labels, and art publishers that make money by encouraging the continued consumption of entertainment content. The industry often prioritizes mass appeal and commercial success over enriching culture for its own sake, sometimes at the expense of deeper cultural or intellectual value.
- This includes film, music, live performance, fine arts and visual media in recent years. The combined size of the entertainment and media market has surpassed $2 trillion. This includes streaming services, blockbuster movies and music production and distribution worldwide.
- countries above:
- United States: Streaming platforms such as Hollywood, Netflix and Disney+ dominate global entertainment.
- India: Bollywood's enormous domestic and international reach ensures its place in the global film industry.
- South Korea: A hub for globally popular K-pop, Korean dramas and cultural export Hallyu
The greatest failure of man's lifeScott Galloway X Rich Roll Podcast
Global industry agriculture in agriculture
Market size: $2 trillion annually
- A vast network of livestock farms, meat processing plants, food producers and distribution systems that collectively drive one of the world's largest and most impressive industries.Perpetuating the demand for meat and animal products, this complex thrives on industrial-scale agricultural practices, unsustainable resource use, and reliance on antibiotics and monocultures of food.Its growth exacerbates environmental problems such as deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions and biological diversity loss.
- The meat and dairy industry contributes significantly to global warming, with approximately 26% of global food emissions coming from livestock.Additionally, livestock dominate over 70% of global poultry biomass and about 95% of global mammal biomass (not including humans), underscoring the scale of that industry.Mass killing of 100 billion animals each year and antibiotic resistance Ethical concerns, including public health risks, add to its systemic challenges.
- main countries:
- United States: One of the largest producers and exporters of beef, poultry and dairy products, with advanced industrial farming systems.
- China - Largest consumer and producer of beef and poultry in the world as well as large demand.
- Brazil - a world leader in beef and poultry exports, driven by its livestock infrastructure.
Global Charmaceutical Industrial Complex
- Market volume of 1.5 billion dollars per year
- A system of pharmaceutical companies, biotech companies, and health care distributors that profit financially when people are sick together or dependent on ongoing medication.While the development of cures and treatments is beneficial, the profit motive can emphasize lifelong prescriptions and high-cost drugs over affordable, one-time solutions.This pattern can be seen as a form of crisisonomics, where current health challenges generate demand that keeps the industry thriving.
- Moral complexity: The church industry produces life-saving drugs, cures and treatments that are shocking to the health of the world.However, the same industry has caused the opioid crisis in the United States by quickly promoting marketing and sales over patient safety.This fact highlights the conflict between the goals and the risks of cost-driven practices.
- Popular countries:
- United States: Home of major companies such as Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, innovation and global sales.
- Switzerland: The HUB for the high level of pasmacuticals, and chin like Novartis and Rotch Contety in medicines and products.
- Germany: Famous for pharmaceutical research and development and production, there are leading companies such as Bayer and Boehringer Ingosheim.
The global fast food industrial complex
- Market size: 850 billion dollars per year
- Fast food websites, international services that package food products such as manufactured food products, potato pumps, salt and spoiled potatoes.By making very noisy, caloric-dense and inferior food products, the bad actions of the consumers were passed on to the consumers.
- Moral complexity.While providing convenient, convenient meals and supporting economic activity, this complex addiction to processed, nutrient-poor foods contributes to global health problems such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.Aggressive marketing of unhealthy products, especially to children and disadvantaged communities, amplifies these public health challenges.
- The main countries:
- United States: birthplace of global food giants such as McDonald's, Starbucks, Subway and grocery stores.
- China: a rapidly growing consumer market for both international fast food chains and locally produced packaged snacks.
- Japan: Known for quality-oriented fast food and innovative offers tailored to regional tastes.
Global intelligence industrial complex
- Market size: 300 billion dollars per year
- A collection of news networks, media companies, and digital publishers that generate revenue through advertising, subscriptions, and click-driven content.This structure can encourage sensationalism, polarized reporting, and "disturbed media" to provide public with a constant stream of conflict and controversy rather than balanced information.It acts as a systemic harvester, from an endless supply of sensational and divisive ideas.stories
- Ethical issues: The media industry plays an important role in maintaining the power of education and the right to informational authority.However, censorship and publicity can also cause sensitivity and discontent, damage public trust and provoke conflict.
- most popular countries:
- USA: Home to major networks like CNN, New York Times, and Bloomberg, which promote international narratives.
UK: The BBC and Reuters are globally renowned for their business, international and investigative journalism.
- China: Out-of-state media such as CGTN and Xinhua broadcast local media that influence the world.
The global influencer industry complex
- Market size: Estimated $20 billion annually
- The network of media personalities, business organizations, and cooperative goals benefit from the cooperation of the cooperation of the cooperation of the cooperation of cooperation.By promoting the active lifestyle and the culture of fast food, it is often awarded to those who value interaction or value.
- The combined impact of the industry, although small, estimated at $20 billion per year, shows the characteristics of a growing sector.With increased consumer trust in social media, higher engagement rates, and many businesses moving to suspending ads, similar to the growth of the hockey stick.Over time, while digital platforms of extension and influence drive greater recognition, the market is quickly becoming a target.
- overall:
- United States: Platforms like Instagram and YouTube are home to some of the world's most famous influencers.
- China: Large social networks such as douyin and weibo have generated remarkable economic growth.
- Brazil: With high engagement in social media and a strong community of creators, Brazil is the Latin American leader in influencer marketing.
Watch the Netflix episode "The Maestro in Blue" which explains the influence complex. You may come across some of these in explaining new terms to understand complexes. Please find the definition below.
- Industrial: sustaining ongoing problems, Industrial: a collective, interconnected structure of economies and societies.
- Profit System: The sign of the power of things to get wealth by maintaining a profit-direct cycle of demand.
- Exploitative complexes: systems that extract value from problems without fundamentally solving them.
- Crizonomic: An economic model in which revenues arise from crises or systemic challenges and their continuity is ensured.
- Perpetuity: industries that survive rather than maintain continuity rather than meet relational needs.
- Humble fixers: Those who get their profit from harvesting while still struggling.
