In November 2022, Nepal held a federal election using ballot papers and without electronic voting machines, even though it used electronic voting machines in its first constitutional assembly elections. Growing concerns about technology impacting election integrity has required the Election Commission to issue a social media code of conduct.
In April 2023, Nepal Rastra Bank banned the use of cryptocurrencies, including stablecoins, NFTs, digital assets, decentralized finance, or any form of virtual currency. Subsequently, the Nepali government banned TikTok in November 2023 to protect social harmony.
In the midst of this digital disruption, Bimal Pratap Shah, a former National Center for Information Technology employee, government researcher at the Center for Electronic Governance, and consultant to the World Bank of Nepal, has created a new project titled “Algorithmic Mocracy.” He publishes books and provides compelling stories. Algorithms, blockchain, AI and he explains how emerging technologies such as ML, Metaverse, etc. will revolutionize the concept of democracy, governance, and regulatory frameworks.
He deftly explores the intersections of technology, politics, religion, and economics, exploring how these concepts coalesce to create philosophies that recalibrate our thought processes.
The subtitle “Democracy in the Age of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and ChatGPT” gives readers a good idea of what to expect from this book. The Shah is focused on representative and direct democracy, a paradigm shift in governance, leveraging blockchain to create new value, and the failure of our leaders to harness this power, which has led to a lack of citizen participation and engagement. skillfully analyzes complex issues.
ChatGPT defines algorithms as a theoretical concept whose feasibility, desirability, and potential impact on our society is debated and is highly futuristic and utopian. From this perspective, this book is ahead of its time and it is interesting to see how Nepali writers have created works that transcend the barriers of time.
This book consists of two parts. Part 1 is a compilation of Shah's newspaper articles about future technologies, changing paradigms, the metaverse world, blockchain, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the tragedy of the commons, libertarian municipalism, and Austria's It covers a wide variety of topics, from economics to esoteric concepts such as the religious imagination. His theme is “Post-Secular World: Is God Dead?''
The central theme of these articles is how digital transformation is changing political systems and enabling processes of direct democracy, even as we navigate the 18th century world in oxcarts. It is about the need for political leadership that adapts to the era of self-driving cars, cryptocurrencies, and cities as platforms and understands that new systems of governance will lead to direct democracy based on blockchain and algorithms. is.
The author shows how the world of AI has advanced by presenting a well-written and perfect article on corruption in Nepal written by ChatGPT.
While technology may be a tonic for freedom and democracy, the author is also careful to note that it is not a panacea. Shah writes that the world needs Magna Carta 2.0 to ensure that technology is used in the service of humanity, science, knowledge, and democracy.
The internet and technologies such as Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies are sovereign-neutral and governments cannot control them. He advocates regulating cryptocurrencies and similar innovations rather than banning them, describing it as regressive behavior.
Citing WEF executive chairman Klaus Schwab, Shah writes, “It is not a world where big fish eat small fish, but a world where fast fish eat slow fish.”
The upshot of this statement is that disruption is the norm in the 21st century, and our organizations, businesses, cultures, ideas, and leadership are vulnerable to massive disruption brought about by technology. It cannot be avoided by banning it.
The second part of the book explains key concepts of digital evolution in simple terms that are useful for those on the ground level of the digital world. The author covers Bitcoin, blockchain and its future, the world of algorithms and computing, crypto luminaries such as Satoshi Nakamoto and Vitalik Butalin, and consensus mechanisms such as POW and POS, FTX, NFTs, and direct democracy. We will explain concepts such as
The second part is a collection of some existing ideas and some emerging new ideas from the digital world. Some are relevant and explained very well, while others could have been explained in more detail. Some of the concepts, like how machine learning works and emerging technologies like sand batteries, sweat-powered smartwatches, and xenotransplantation, are quite catchy.
The topics covered are important parts of the world of technology, and the author's expertise on the subject is clearly visible, but rather than sharing facts and figures in a closed box, he focuses on the subject. It could have been conveyed better by weaving the story into it. For example, a reader may not be interested in knowing the facts about the Silk Road, but rather how Ross Ulbricht conducted illegal activities under the radar.
Although this book is a treasure trove of knowledge needed in the digital age, it is marred by numerous editorial errors. In some chapters, paragraphs are repeated word for word, like a draft. Similarly, mistakes such as careless repetitions, incomplete sentences, and changing fonts for no apparent reason will hinder the seamless absorption of the book's wealth of knowledge.
The first part of the book is a collection of articles originally published in various newspapers, so some ideas and concepts are repeated across the chapters.
Despite the copy-editing mistakes, Bimal's passion and knowledge of technology and using it to drive progress in Nepal is truly inspiring. This book isn't just about technology, it's not just about politics. Rather, it is about how technological change transforms political values, ideologies, concepts, nations, and ethos, creating a new class of technosapiens.
This book provides political policy advice on why Nepal must gradually embrace these changes to reap the benefits of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to avoid a dystopian future. serves as a timely and essential guide. While all technology enthusiasts will enjoy reading and learning from Shah's collection of esoteric views, it is a must-read for politicians, policymakers, and bureaucrats alike.
Albert Einstein famously said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” This resonates deeply with the thought-provoking concept of algorithmic democracy and the idea that it could potentially reshape the future of social organization and pave the way for new possibilities. Through her books, Shah succeeds in giving her readers a glimpse of what the future will be like and sparking their curiosity and imagination.
Siddhi is the Head of Transaction Bank at SCB Nepal.
algorithmism
Author: Bimal Pratap Shah
Year: 2023
Publisher: Reprovision Press
