Industry 4.0 or politics 4.0?
We, the netizens of 21st century are on the verge of a technological revolution which will completely alter how we live, work and interact with our fellow humans. Probably, it can lead to us questioning, has my whole life been a lie? This shift will be unlike anything which humankind has experienced, more precisely, marvel and terminator movies coming to life. The magnitude, scope and intricacy of this change is unknown right now, we don’t know how it will pan out, but one thing is to be kept in mind for sure- the response must be integrative and comprehensive, engaging all global polity players, from the public and business sectors to academics and civil society.
The first industrial revolution began in Britain in the 18th century. It lead to innovation and manufacturing rates increased as machines were introduced. The advent of capitalism, European imperialism, and the Agricultural Revolution were three factors that contributed to the Industrial Revolution. The west truly saw a remarkable economic transformation. The development of new machinery, such as the spinning jenny and the power loom, which allowed for increased output while using less human energy lead to a new system of work called the Factory system with division of labor and function specialization. It is very interesting to note the non-technological changes which were simultaneously happening such as the major change in politics with regard to shifts in economic power as well as new state policies which were in favor of the newly industrialized society. Along with it, there was the expansion of cities, the creation of working-class movements, the establishment of new structures of authority, and vast cultural transformations.
The first industrial revolution shifted our economy from agriculture to manufacturing. The second revolved around the discoveries of electricity, gas, and oil. These fuel sources aided in the development of the combustion engine. After another hundred years, nuclear energy and electronics entered the scene. This is where our story begins, I’m 21 so technically I have witnessed only the 2000’s revolution which is definitely post 2nd revolution.
We cannot imagine our lives without the internet. Without the accessibility of the world wide web, it is impossible for me to even post this blog. The fact that billions of people all around the world are connected through mobiles and social media is incredible in itself compared to the situation 50 years ago. Emerging technological developments in disciplines such as artificial intelligence, robots, the Internet of Things, autonomous cars, 3-D printing, nanotechnology, biotechnology, materials science, energy storage, and quantum computing will multiply these possibilities.
There are three reasons why today’s revolutions are not only a continuation of the Third Industrial Revolution, but the entrance of a new and different one: velocity, scope, and system impact. The present rate of breakthroughs is unprecedented in history. In comparison to earlier industrial revolutions, the Industry 4.0 is progressing at an exponential rather than a one dimensional rate. Furthermore, it is affecting practically every industry in every country. And the scope and complexity of these shifts foreshadow the transformation of entire production, management, and governance systems. We are surrounded by machines. Artificial intelligence is all around us, from smart shopping to smart cars, drone technologies and supercomputers, or something as simple as a smart LED bulb, we are in an artificial ecosystem already.
Have you ever paused and wondered, how is this massive multi-dimensional change going to affect our governments? Will they be without governance just like self driving cars without drivers? Or will there be a robot formulating our policies? The current investigations and research on how to turn your city into a smart one are expanding. There has been a comprehensive approach to smart city development and management which gives it’s residents access to a digitalized way of life where basic needs are easily accessible. A smart city is a place where traditional networks and services are made more efficient with the use of digital solutions for the benefit of its inhabitants and business. As the physical, digital, and biological worlds continue to collide, new technologies and platforms will make it easier for citizens to engage with governments, voice their thoughts, coordinate their actions. With this an intriguing question arises, will governments face increasing pressure to change their current approach to public engagement and policymaking? as their central role in policymaking diminishes as a result of new sources of competition and the redistribution and decentralization of power that new technologies would enable.
Governments will have to keep up with the industry 4.0 transformation to emerge into politics 4.0 because clearly current public policy and decision-making mechanisms arose in tandem with the Second Industrial Revolution when decision-makers had the time to examine a specific issue and construct the necessary reaction or regulatory framework. The entire procedure was planned to be linear and mechanistic. The nature of national and international security will likewise be radically altered by the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Cyberwarfare could very much be possible and protection of national data would be the top-most priority of states.
With this evolving industry, the need for a different economic and political model is the need of the hour. We must recover materials and reintroduce them into the system in order to decouple expansion from limiting resources in order to see a change in the economic models. It would no longer be revolved around capitalism vs communism, rather a shift in the system along the lines of the two big changes that are Keynesianism and Neoliberalism is to be thought of. A value shift occurs when we create a new story about how we wish to live. Now, rather than focusing just on expansion, we should aim to maximize human well-being and potential. We must begin to care for ourselves.
New technologies need policies and implementation strategies. With the right political support and creation of an incentive for the citizens to use the technology in a good and wise way is a challenge. So, how can they maintain the interest of consumers and the general public while continuing to encourage innovation and technical development? By embracing the agile governance model. That is distinguished by the segmentation of tasks into small work phases and the regular appraisal and adaptation of plans. To do this, governments and regulatory organizations will need to collaborate closely with business and civil society.
Martin Heidegger in his “Questions concerning technology” emphasizes the role of technology in causing human downfall by limiting our experience of things as they are. He contends that we now see nature, and increasingly human beings, solely through a technological lens — that is, we regard nature and people as raw materials for technical operations. He attempts to highlight this phenomena and to establish a style of thinking that would free us from its ruling power, which he feels has bound modern civilization. We may break free from this shackle, Heidegger says, not by rejecting technology, but by recognising its danger.
In the end, a design or a model is critical because it is the first signal of human intention for adding value to quantity and we must design a future that works for all of us by putting people first and empowering them but also keeping the highest priority for nature and sustainable revolution. However, as a complement to the best aspects of human nature — creativity, empathy, and stewardship; the fourth industrial revolution has the potential to lift humanity into a new collective and moral awareness based on a shared sense of destiny. To accomplish this, we must first establish a comprehensive and globally shared understanding of how technology affects our lives and reshapes our economic, social, cultural, and personal contexts. There has never been a more promising period, or a more dangerous time.
