The Stack

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This work presents a political and design theory of planetary-scale computation, proposing that The Stack—a serendipitous megastructure—functions as both a technological apparatus and a model for a new geopolitical framework. It examines how planetary-scale computation reshapes our geopolitical realities through various forms, including energy sourcing, cloud infrastructure, urban software, and universal addressing systems. These elements, along with user self-quantification and the proliferation of sensors, algorithms, and robots, collectively distort modern political geographies and create new territories. The author argues that different genres of computation—such as smart grids, cloud platforms, and automation—are not isolated phenomena but rather components of a cohesive whole: The Stack. This structure serves as both a computational tool and a governing architecture, deeply embedded in our lives. The exploration encompasses six layers of The Stack: Earth, Cloud, City, Address, Interface, and User, each analyzed in relation to the larger system of intertwined hard and soft components, including social and physical forces. This model, inspired by the protocol “stack” logic, provides a comprehensive view of our evolving infrastructure and a framework for its continuous transformation. It serves as an interdisciplinary design brief for a new geopolitics that aligns with planetary-scale computation, offering insights on how t