Humankind Evolution: Liberté, Égalité, Chaîne de blocs

28.08.2016

These days, blockchain ceased being a mere computer technology with limited scope of applications, but a sort of a philosophic concept applicable anywhere in human society. In particular, it may be successfully implemented in state building and reformation of both governance systems and the society in general.

The humankind’s history knows of numerous governance theories intended for elimination of social disadvantages and making all people happy. Their advocates, be it anarchists or autocracy fans, believe that it is their ideology that is righteous, whereas others are full of errors. Similarly, neither ideology offers any relevant tools to lead the humanity to the bright future. Rejection of a new regime and opposition in general are commonly repressed or ignored.

Even though people are bad with opposing mavericks in any form, the society still has to consider tools for its development. Some believe that this magic wrench is blockchain. Some would feel amazed, some would call it nonsense, and some would agree. So, what’s it all about?

What makes us irritated about the state, except some general concepts like government control or bureaucracy? It’s corruption. It’s been corruption all the way. These days, such schemes involve money amounts sufficient to clear national debts of an average country, develop all industries in the same country, and, as a bonus, provide any citizen thereof with a gold iPhone. Most remarkably, one cannot effectively eliminate corruption – at least with traditional solutions.

Even in Singapore known for its Draconic anti-corruption laws, the phenomenon is not eliminated altogether – at least, the famous anti-corruption bureau is still operational, and even requests more employees and money. The reason for that is simple: proving that someone is corrupt is virtually impossible, as bribing with cash these days are only present, well, you know where.

But what if someone uses blockchain? As a minimum, one could trace finances, material assets, stocks etc. from their origination point (briber) to their destination (bribetaker). If we add an option of tracing relative and business links with blockchain, we’ll see that, say, a factory that had all of a sudden won a tender for supplying something somewhere, has as suddenly transferred a part of its shares to the grandmother thrice removed of a mistress of the tender commission’s head, while the half sister of the relevant minister’s daughter-in-law started driving a Bugatti. Law enforcement, in that case, would have all required evidence of corruption for minimal expenses.

Apart from that, blockchain may be applicable in managing public property, be it leasing, selling or dispossession. The first attempts of implementing such attempts are now underway in Ukraine, which is testing the platform for e-Auction, the world’s first decentralized auction for privatization and leasing of public property. Anyone who had paid the entry fee may participate. The system’s operation is completely isolated from any external influence. The system’s creators state that all information on the auction’s operation has to be 100% open and available online, so that any bidder may have their answers and clarifications. Additionally, if any problems pop up beyond the auctioneer’s expectations, the bidders may challenge the results using the system’s info.

Another project incorporating blockchain technology in sociology and politics is E-Vox, a voting system developed by Ambisafe on the basis of Ethereum. Originally, E-Vox uses smart contracts at referendums and elections of any level, from a village council to a parliament. In theory, voters will be able to vote with any device that may access the internet, and identify themselves with some sort of ID cards, electronic keys, or even fingerprints.

Some may perceive the changes that blockchain technology can bring to our social and political lives as something related to sci-fi. However, lots of people around the world share this vision. For example, they are Vít Jedlička, who had created blockchain-based virtual nation of Liberland; Adam Kaleb Ernest, co-founder of Follow My Vote; Suzanne Tarkowski-Templehof, who is a blockchain enthusiast believing blockchain technology may supersede nation states.

Those are the people who believe that changes to our lives cannot be artificially brought from beyond. Society has to evolve, they think, and blockchain is yet another step of the evolutionary stairway.

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Tags: blockchain, corruption, Society, state