The increasing power of motivated and intelligent individuals is a major force, which I feel the author missed. In modern times (particularly in the last 10 years) it has become easier and easier for the motivated and intelligent individual to wield ever-increasing amounts of power. Today, and even more-so in coming years, a few motivated people can wield power which would rival the super-powers of a few decades ago. SpaceX for example with their recent launch is on par with the early NASA progress.

I hate to reference wikileaks in yet another thread, but 20 years ago it would have been unimaginable that a small group of people could set themselves to rival[1] a super-power and be so effective at it. A similar argument could be made about Al-Qaeda, Anonymous, and many other organizations.

Further Reading: Vernor Vinge touches briefly on this trend and some of its implications in Rainbow's End.

Edit: [1] 'rival' may have been the wrong word. 'baffle'?