Digital Government: The New Global Alliance?
The panel will explore the promises and perils of international collaboration in digital government as digitisation rises to prominence as a policy concern for governments globally.
In November 2018, the Digital 7 (D7) group of countries grew to nine. As politically and demographically diverse as Estonia to South Korea, a common identity as digital government ‘leaders’ nonetheless binds together the D9 member states into an active, collaborative and growing network. Digital government teams from the US to the Middle East have, meanwhile, sought to emulate the technological creativity of the early years of the UK Government Digital Service, borrowing ideas, strategies and even code.
Further afield, in Latin America, digital government teams engage in a rapid-response regional network—enabled by mobile applications—that drives the development of products and policies at the national level. In parallel, China is said to be exporting its model of digital government along the so-called ‘digital Silk Road’ and beyond. Digital government, in its many iterations, has become a form of soft power.
What circumstances provide the conditions for these new forms of international policy and technology collaboration? Is digital government really a more politically ‘neutral’ and globally replicable policy area than others, as some digital practitioners suggest? And what is at stake in the creation of a set of digital products and ethics across borders? Join our expert panel as they set out to address these topics.
Panelists include:
Robyn Scott, CEO, Apolitical
Tom Loosemore, Partner, Public Digital and co-founder, UK Government Digital Service (GDS)
Graham Floater, International Director, UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS)
Aaron Maniam, University of Oxford and Singapore Administrative Service
The panel will be followed by a wine reception.
Tickets may also be available on the door, space depending. Please speak to a member of staff on the evening to see if there is a seat available.