The left may have failed in its bid to create a socialist utopia.

But technology and IT is on the verge of ushering in a transformational democratic era.

That was the broad-brush thesis of Paul Mason’s book Postcapitalism, which he summarised at The Long Progress Bar.

Part of the Brighton Digital Festival, the two day festival is a nebulous, progressive collection of talks and performances, which put the likes of Channel 4 economics editor Mason and SAOS professor Guy Standing alongside avant-garde musician Holly Herndon and conceptual electronic artist Jam City.

Mason opened day one by championing technology as a liberating force with the power to end the inequality free-market capitalism leaves in its wake.

For one, machines reduce the need for work, and move us away from subsistence and towards a better quality of life.

The free-flowing exchange of information in the internet grabs power away from traditional corporations and hands it to the people.

And phenomena such as the sharing economy demonstrate a new kind market which elevates collaboration and social networks.

For Mason these are escape routes towards completely new ways of thinking about technology, ownership and work.

His ideas have prompted derision from the right who say scarce evidence exists to back up his radical theorising.

But against an clear backdrop of largely beneficial technological innovations, his arguments are increasingly persuasive.

Four stars