The Technocracy Movement of the 1930s (donotresearch.substack.com)

The article revisits the 1930s technocracy movement led by Howard Scott, which envisioned replacing democracy with an engineer-run, centralized system based on “energy accounting” and measurable social management. It describes how the movement gained a large following amid the Great Depression, then faded after public criticism and Scott’s lack of credentials. The author argues that modern tech elites echo technocracy’s ideas—using data, algorithms, and the belief that technology alone can transform society—while also drawing parallels to anti-democratic views and the pursuit of efficiency.