Overwhelmingly, the Californian Ideology is neoliberal, meaning that it adheres to a political philosophy that advocates deregulated, free-market economic policies as a means to freedom and prosperity. Silicon Valley has become a model of neoliberal economic development and a fantasy about the possibilities of space. The success of the Californian Ideology has encouraged other governments to promote their own “siliconia” in the hope that it would offer a universal solution to localized problems; a Wikipedia page lists Silicon Gulf in the Philippines, Silicon Wadi in Israel, Silicon Saxony, Cwm Silicon in Wales, Silicon Beach, Silicon Corridor, Silicon Prairie, and so forth. The varying degrees of success of these other initiatives underscore the importance of geography and history to Silicon Valley’s own story.

Alice E. Marwick, Status Update, loc. 120