As technology has become a constantly increasing part of everyday life, the world has become more interconnected than ever before. This increased interconnectedness has resulted in an increase in globalization. While globalization has undoubtedly ushered in great improvements on a global scale, it has not been met with resounding approval by all. The increase globalization has led some citizens, who view globalization as a threat to their way of life, to criticize their government and lose faith in its ability to regulate change. How then will these citizens respond to the implementation of global technologies such as blockchain? Especially when the blockchain technology is linked to the facilitation of global transactions, viewed as a source of potential global currency, and is occasionally linked to nefarious global enterprises? Before blockchain can be utilized by governments in their interactions with their citizens, a better understanding of the technology may have to be fostered to increase individual openness to its potential utilization by the government. Blockchain is a data structure used to record transactions and is maintained through a web of peer-to-peer networks. This decentralized network allows blockchain to better ensure security and transparency as altering the record kept in blockchain is nigh impossible. As a simple illustration, tampering with the information in blockchain would result in an alteration in the hash of the associated block. The following blocks would reflect this hash alteration and subsequently become invalid because it would be clear that they had been tampered with. Even if a person were able to adjust the following blocks’ hashes to make them appear correct, a fail-safe system called proof of work would also need to be altered. Altering proof of work would require altering the proof of work for all blocks subsequent to the altered block in all the chains in which the block was distributed in order to achieve consensus. In sum, it would be a monumental and likely impossible task. By creating this understanding among citizens in a public service area in which an attempt at establishing blockchain technology is being made, the acceptance by the populace of the technology is much more likely. Emphasis must be placed on what blockchain technology can do for the individual. Citizens who understand that blockchain technologies are a secure and transparent data storing system will be more likely to trust and utilize the technology when it is implemented in their area; as opposed to citizens who associate blockchain with things they view as negative such as nefarious transactions and, potentially, globalization. To foster understanding and acceptance, a relationship of trust between the government and the citizens must be established. In addition, upon introduction of the blockchain technology, the government must take steps to ensure that citizen’s expectations of its use and effectiveness are being met. If the technology is unwieldy, overly complicated, or ineffective, it is likely to be rejected by all. As a result, future attempts will also likely be rejected. While there is little doubt that blockchain technology could be used to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of governments, the citizens must be ready for it.
PDFPDFStay tuned for news on sustainable development, environment and climate change, international trade and human rights, Chinese issues and much more!
