A wider array of options toppled Communism in Eastern Europe.

Question: What forces have shaped humanity most?

Rosabeth Moss Kanter: The 21st century is being shaped by heavily by technology. In fact technology has always been very powerful, powerful forces in history because it sets the context. And information communications technology definitely shapes our era. They connect people. They make ideas and information more transparent and open. They can topple regimes. I fully believe that Communism ended in Eastern Europe because people became aware that they had choices and were no longer ready to settle for the local option and therefore support those regimes. So technology can have very, very powerful social impact, political impact, and set the context for everything we do.

Recorded on: 6/13/07