Blockchain technology: A policy instrument
| dc.contributor.advisor | Adams-Jack, Ubanesia | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.author | de Jongh, Christiaan Louw | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.other | Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Political Science. | en_ZA |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2020-11-19T12:05:48Z | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2021-01-31T19:39:57Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2020-11-19T12:05:48Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2021-01-31T19:39:57Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2020-03 | |
| dc.description | Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2020. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | 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. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Namate ons voortgaan met die Vierde Nywerheid revolusie, het die behoefte aan tegnologiese gevorderde regeringsadministrasiehulpmiddels duideliker geword namate regerings sukkel om invloedryk en effektief te bly in die uitvoering van openbare beleid. Benewens die uitdagings van tegnologiese vooruitgang, het regerings steeds probleme met korrupsie, ondoeltreffendheid en wantroue in die gesig, wat 'n invloed het op die vermoë om waarde vir die burgers te produseer en nasionale ontwikkeling verder te bevorder. Hierdie navorsing identifiseer die innoverende tegnologie blockchain as 'n instrument om doelwitte te bereik en verskeie bestaande probleme binne die prosesse van die implementering van openbare beleidsrigtings aan te spreek. In 'n literatuuroorsig is 'n navorsing gaping geïdentifiseer wat aandui dat beleid studente geen navorsing onderneem het om hierdie tegnologie as 'n beleidsinstrument te ondersoek nie, ondanks verskeie blockchain-wetenskaplikes wat dit as 'n 'instrument van die regering' erken. Om hierdie leemte aan te spreek, is 'n kwalitatiewe ondersoekende benadering gebruik om te ondersoek of blockchain die funksies van beleidsinstrumente kan vervul. Hierdie studie het 'n nuutgeboude analitiese raamwerk, genaamd die Instrumentum raamwerk, toegepas. Dit is gebruik om data oor die toepassings van blockchain-tegnologie binne die regering te ontleed om te bepaal of dit die funksies van 'n beleidsinstrument kan vervul. Met hierdie studie is uitgegaan van die veronderstelling dat indien blockchain die funksies verbonde aan beleidsinstrumente kan vervul, diegene wat beleidsinstrumente bestudeer, daaraan aandag moet gee. Die data wat ondersoek is, is verkry uit bronne wat in die openbaar beskikbaar is, wat fokus op die toepassing van blockchain-tegnologie vir 1) nasionale grond registrasie, 2) nasionale verkiesing (stem) en 3) bestuur van burger identiteit. Die bevindings wat deur hierdie navorsing gelewer is, het tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat blockchain-tegnologie die funksies van beleidsinstrumente kan vervul op 'n manier wat beide teoretiese en praktiese implikasies het. In die eerste plek, as die oorweging van blockchain die funksies verbonde aan beleidsinstrumente kan vervul, is dit nodig dat beleidstudent hierdie tegnologie in diepte bestudeer. Verder, uit praktiese begrip, as beleidsinstrument, het blockchain die potensiaal om verskillende probleme in die wêreld aan te spreek (korrupsie, ondoeltreffendheid, gebrek aan verantwoordbaarheid en deursigtigheid) binne bestaande tegnieke vir die implementering van beleid. Hierdie tegnologie kan voordelig wees vir regerings vir beleid administrasie. In hierdie tesis word dit aanbeveel dat regerings, veral in ontwikkelende lande, die tradisionele bestuur meganismes en beleidsinstrumente moet heroorweeg en hierdie nuwe tegnologie omhels vir toekomstige implementering van beleid en digitale openbare administrasie tydens die vierde industriële rewolusie. | af_ZA |
| dc.description.version | Masters | |
| dc.format.extent | xiii, 168 pages : illustrations | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/109215 | |
| dc.language.iso | en_ZA | en_ZA |
| dc.publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University | en_ZA |
| dc.rights.holder | Stellenbosch University | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Blockchain technology -- Safety measures | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Fourth Industrial Revolution | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Industry 4.0 | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Digital transformation | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Technological innovations -- Economic aspects | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Bitcoin | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Block chains (Databases) | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Blockchains (Databases) | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Electronic commerce -- Effect of technological innovations on | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Blockchain -- Corruption -- Prevention | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | UCTD | |
| dc.title | Blockchain technology: A policy instrument | en_ZA |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_ZA |