People / Thinkers
David Orban

Decentralization impacts global governance / What is the question that I should be asking? / Blockchain and the UN

Burgess COMMENTARY

Peter Burgess

Decentralization impacts global governance David Orban What is the question that I should be asking? 2017 week 50 Blockchain and the UN In a context of exponential technological development, old centralized models of governance may be outdated. Opportunity may come from a new trend towards decentralization, which allows organizations facing global challenges to trial a range of novel solutions adapted to local contexts. In this perspective, what might be the role of the United Nations? It could operate as a platform, offering a neutral interface to facilitate interactions among a broad range of stakeholders. To bring this vision to life, the best vehicle would be an independent UN Labs that harnesses the potential of blockchain technology to support better global data flows, and catalyze the development of decentralized solutions to global challenges. Technological change is accelerating, and can be simultaneously observed in a range of uncorrelated industries. Most evident in the information and communication sector, it has created a globally connected world, and exponentially increased the level of uncertainty around the globe. In this context, centralized forecasting by hierarchical organizations has become a blunt and inadaptive tool – but opportunity may arise from an increasing trend towards decentralization. This article is a contribution to the Global Challenges Foundation report: “Global governance in the age of disruptive technology“. Blockchain is emerging as one of the key technologies to support decentralized models of organization. Blockchain was invented in 2008, and implemented first in the Bitcoin cryptocurrency. Blockchain based solutions work on a network of computers or smartphones, connected together over the Internet. Its fundamental innovation is that through novel use of cryptography and smart software, the nodes in the network are able to share inalterable data without a central authority. The system works even if the participants never met, or even if they do not trust each other. While the first and still most prevalent application is the storing and transfer of value, underpinning a true digital money native to the Internet, the ambitions and potential applications of blockchain go beyond that field. [Read more...] Download the full report in PDF Visit the Global Challenges Foundation website Video – Evangelizing Change The Power of Bitcoin, Don't Panic | An Interview with David Orban Blockchain's promise goes way beyond Bitcoin, and will be a fundamental part of the technologies powering the civilization of the 21st century. Podcast I've recently started a podcast 'What Is The Question' which you can subscribe to on iTunes, YouTube, or directly to the RSS feed on Libsyn with your preferred podcast player. Since I realized that I am much better in conversations than in monologues, I invited Hannes Sjoblad as my co-host. You can find one episode published right now, with others lined up to be published shortly as well. We talk about the role of technology in society, exponentials, decentralization, the themes that you find covered in this newsletter as well. An Italian podcast is available as well, and you'll need to separately subscribe to that too. Future events Where am I? Do you want to meet? Let me know December 16-22: New York, NY December 23 - January 4: Buenos Aires, Argentina January 5 - January 13: Las Vegas, NV Continue the conversation What are the topics that are most interesting for you? You can reply to this email: I read every message sent. Or even better, you can make your remarks online by engaging on one of our common platforms. Copyright © 2017 David Orban, Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution You are receiving this email because we corresponded, or you signed up on the website for updates. Our mailing address is: David Orban 3rd Floor, 14 Hanover Street London, W1S 1YH United Kingdom Add us to your address book unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences