The extraordinary wealth and influence of today's technology leaders have prompted comparisons with the "robber barons" of the late nineteenth century. But are these comparisons fair? This interactive course examines the economic, environmental, social and political impacts of major technology companies and their founders. Participants will explore the historical context of both eras, assess evidence on innovation and market power, and consider questions about wealth, influence, democracy and social responsibility. Through discussion and debate, you will be encouraged to form your own conclusions about one of the defining issues of our time.

DELIVERY MODE

Face to face

COURSE RESOURCES

• The Robber Barons: A Definitive History of the Gilded Age Titans Who Transformed the American Economy (1934) Matthew Josephson
• The Myth of the Robber Barons I Dr. Burt Folsom https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97OOKzZB1cI
• Burn Book: A tech love story (2024) Kara Swisher
• https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/bigideas/kara-swisher-marc-fennell-tech-bros/105871744
• The Invisible Doctrine, the Secret History of Neoliberalism, (2024) George Monibot, Peter Hutchison   
• Autocracy, The Dictators who want to run the World (2025) Anne Applebaum

COURSE OUTLINE

• Define the terminology ‘Robber Baron’, ‘Tech Bro’ and their context.
• Explain the social and economic environment of the late 19th century and current 21st century
• Discuss the four categories (rounds) of impacts and each participant votes yes/no per round
  • Economy
  • Physical environment
  • Society and innovation
  • Political influence
• Discussion – class decides

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• Understand the terminology Robber Barons and Tech Bros
• Understand the social and political context of the periods late 19th and early 21st centuries
• Identify four categories of impacts and the role of the Robber Barons and Tech Bros