"It will no longer be war that is the continuation of politics by other means, it will be what I have dubbed 'the integral accident' that is the continuation of politics by other means"

Paul Virilio, a cultural theorist and urbanist understood for his deal with innovation and speed, introduces the idea of "the important mishap" as a framework to understand contemporary politics. In this quote, Virilio proposes a shift from the traditional Clausewitzian idea that "war is the extension of politics by other means" to a modern dynamic where mishaps or catastrophes become the new instruments through which political programs are pursued or comprehended.

Typically, war has actually been viewed as a strategic tool employed by states to accomplish political goals when diplomacy fails. However, with quick technological improvements and globalization, Virilio recommends that the brand-new drivers for political change and influence are not military disputes but rather the unpredictable accidents these technologies might introduce. By "important accident", he describes not simply physical mishaps, like industrial disasters or technological failures, however likewise to the wider, methodical crises fundamental in technological and social systems-- things like monetary crises, cybersecurity risks, or ecological disasters intensified by technological or human aspects.

Virilio's point of view can be viewed as a critique of how modern politics is deeply linked with technology, where the risks and failures of technological systems can affect international sociopolitical landscapes. These 'accidents' expose vulnerabilities, improve popular opinion, and often result in policy changes, similar to the results of standard warfare but achieved through different methods.

Thus, by recommending that "the integral accident" is an extension of politics by other methods, Virilio stresses a new period where power and influence are significantly dictated by control, anticipation, and reaction to these unavoidable systemic crises. His work difficulties dominating assumptions about power characteristics, highlighting the pressing need for new political, ethical, and social structures to address and reduce the effects of these universal threats. Through this lens, Virilio encourages a reevaluation of modern-day political strategies and societal values in the face of technology-induced uncertainties.