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E-govErnmEnt

the fourth industrial revolution and the government of the future:
Taking stock of the future of government

In this article, dr ian roberge takes stock of how the fourth industrial revolution is likely to have an impact on the
idea of government the world over.

a few words on the fourth
industrial revolution

Professor Klaus Schwab, has observed
the emergence of what he describes
as the fourth industrial revolution.
According to the founder and executive
chairman of the World Economic Forum
(WEF), this particular revolution is
not only “characterised by a range of
new technologies that are fusing the
physical, digital and biological worlds,”
it is also having a profound impact
on governments, economies and
industries, and even challenging ideas
about what it means to be human.

The seeds of the fourth industrial
revolution have already been sowed.
They are seen in major transformations
across spheres of human activities;
scientific breakthroughs and discoveries
in the fields of artificial intelligence,
robotics, 3-D printing, big data, the
Internet of Things and biogenetics.
These developments bring science
fiction to life.
The fourth industrial revolution is already
transforming our daily lives, carrying with
it opportunities and threats. The benefits
could be numerous and, in many cases,
they are unknown since they will be
the result of forthcoming advances in debate now so that they have a clear segments of society are represented
science and technology. The fourth understanding of how society expects fairly, especially since changes are likely
industrial revolution also carries risks them to respond as issues arise. The to profoundly affect the way all citizens
that will need to be managed. However, quintessential examples are those live.
the changes are not necessarily going from the sharing economy like Uber or
to be linear; they will not simply be Airbnb, and the threat they pose to the Governments should be at the frontier
extensions of whatever currently exists. taxi and hotel industries by being able and not simply respond to develop-
Furthermore, the pace of change is to avoid a lot of red tape imposed upon ments post-hoc. They should be defin-
even harder to predict, short of the these sectors by government. Despite ing the boundaries, setting limits so that
assumption that it will be at an ever- their respective launches years ago, the private sector does not set the tone
increasing rate as artificial intelligence many governments are still struggling to via technological innovations that leave
takes up a greater role in enabling and find appropriate responses to these new public authorities in a bind. Private sec-
enhancing change. Although the scope business models. tor actors need to be involved in forth-
and pace of change are debatable, coming debates, but public values have
there is little doubt that governments are The fourth industrial revolution holds the to be at the forefront of considerations.
soon going to have to grapple with some potential for significant transformation Through foresight, planning and other
very serious challenges. across sectors of society. Governments tools as necessary, governments have
cannot let the conversation unfold in a to identify trends in order to determine
As this new era begins, governments forum where those at the fringes have where and how they ought to intervene
need not plan for a dramatic new no voice. For that reason, governments to manage upcoming developments.
future. Rather, they need to ask the ‘big have a crucial role to play in structuring
questions’ that begin to structure the the debate and in ensuring that all

8 SERVICE DELIVERY REVIEW | Volume 11 No. 3 of 2018