Tecnosolutions for the future: Trap or possibility? An approach from Ygdrasil by Jorge Baradit

Abstract

This article explores the implications of technosolutions in the context of late capitalism, analyzing how, in most cases, these solutions ultimately reinforce existing power structures. Through Ygdrasil (2005) by Jorge Baradit, it is illustrated how technology, rather than serving as a means of emancipation, can be co-opted by large corporations to consolidate their control, becoming a tool of domination disguised as innovation. The novel presents cyber-shamanic subjects trapped in technological networks, reflecting the dangers of relying on technological solutions in a society marked by inequalities. Following Mark Fisher’s critique of capitalist realism, the article highlights how this cultural and political stagnation limits our ability to imagine alternatives beyond the dominant logics. Through speculative narratives like Ygdrasil, the limits of technosolutions are questioned, emphasizing the need for a profound structural change that transcends capitalist dynamics. The study concludes that technosolutions and speculative fiction do not provide an automatic exit from the system; rather, their effectiveness depends on the context and their ability to transform power relations, rather than reinforcing inequalities.