Browsing by Author "de Jongh, Christiaan Louw"

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    Blockchain technology: A policy instrument
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-03) de Jongh, Christiaan Louw; Adams-Jack, Ubanesia; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Political Science.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: As we continue to progress into the Fourth Industrial Revolution the need for technologically advanced government administration tools has become more evident as governments are struggling to remain influential and effective in implementing public policy. In addition to the challenges of technological advancement, governments also continue to face internal issues of corruption, inefficiency,and distrust,which influences its ability to produce value for citizens and further national development.This research identifies the innovative technology blockchain as a tool to achieve goals and address various existing problems within the processes of public policy implementation. A literature review identified a research gap indicating that no research has been undertaken by policy scholars to explore this technology as a policy instrument, despite various blockchain scholars recognizing it as an ‘instrument of government’. To address this lacuna, a qualitative exploratory research approach was used to explore whether blockchain can fulfil the functions of policy instruments.This study applied a newly constructed analytica lframework called the Īnstrūmentum framework. It was used to analyse data on the applications of blockchain technology within government to determine if it can fulfil the functions of a policy instrument. This study proceeded from the premise that if blockchain can fulfil the functions associated with policy instruments, then those who study policy instruments should devote attention to it.The data examined was drawn from publicly available sources which focus on the application of blockchain technology for 1) national land registries, 2) national elections(voting)and 3) citizen identity management. The findings produced by this research concluded that blockchain technology can fulfil the functions of policy instruments in a way that has both theoretical and practical implications. Firstly, considering blockchain can fulfil the functions associated with policy instruments, it is necessary for policy scholars to study this technology in depth. Furthermore, from a practical understanding, as a policy instrument, blockchain has the potential to address various real-world issues (corruption, inefficiency, lack of accountability and transparency) within existing As we continue to progress into the Fourth Industrial Revolution the need for technologically advanced government administration tools has become more evident as governments are struggling to remain influential and effective in implementing public policy. In addition to the challenges of technological advancement, governments also continue to face internal issues of corruption, inefficiency,and distrust,which influences its ability to produce value for citizens and further national development.This research identifies the innovative technology blockchain as a tool to achieve goals and address various existing problems within the processes of public policy implementation. A literature review identified a research gap indicating that no research has been undertaken by policy scholars to explore this technology as a policy instrument, despite various blockchain scholars recognizing it as an ‘instrument of government’. To address this lacuna, a qualitative exploratory research approach was used to explore whether blockchain can fulfil the functions of policy instruments.This study applied a newly constructed analytica lframework called the Īnstrūmentum framework. It was used to analyse data on the applications of blockchain technology within government to determine if it can fulfil the functions of a policy instrument. This study proceeded from the premise that if blockchain can fulfil the functions associated with policy instruments, then those who study policy instruments should devote attention to it.The data examined was drawn from publicly available sources which focus on the application of blockchain technology for 1) national land registries, 2) national elections(voting)and 3) citizen identity management. The findings produced by this research concluded that blockchain technology can fulfil the functions of policy instruments in a way that has both theoretical and practical implications. Firstly, considering blockchain can fulfil the functions associated with policy instruments, it is necessary for policy scholars to study this technology in depth. Furthermore, from a practical understanding, as a policy instrument, blockchain has the potential to address various real-world issues (corruption, inefficiency, lack of accountability and transparency) within existing techniques of policy implementation.This technology could be highly beneficial to governments for policy administration.This thesis recommends that governments, especially in developing nations, rethink traditional governance mechanisms and policy instruments, and embrace this new age technology for future policy implementation and digital public administration in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.