ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Historians Coin 'Muskism' to Describe Elon Musk's Power Concentration

publication · 2026-06-11

Historians Quinn Slobodian and tech expert Ben Tarnoff have introduced the term 'Muskism' to describe the extreme concentration of power exemplified by Elon Musk's SpaceX IPO. The concept goes beyond a mere business event, framing Musk's influence as a new form of governance. The analysis appears in a new book reviewed by Süddeutsche Zeitung.

Key facts

  • Quinn Slobodian and Ben Tarnoff coined the term 'Muskism'.
  • The term refers to extreme power concentration exemplified by Elon Musk.
  • SpaceX's IPO is cited as a key example.
  • The concept is presented in a new book.
  • The review was published by Süddeutsche Zeitung.
  • Muskism is described as a new form of governance.
  • The analysis is historical and tech-focused.
  • The term goes beyond economics into political philosophy.

Entities

Institutions

  • SpaceX
  • Süddeutsche Zeitung

Sources