Perspective Chapter: Actor-Network Theory as an Organising Structure for Blockchain Adoption in Government

Abstract

Blockchain technology (BT) is a promising technology with compelling distributive and security capabilities for digitalising organisations and social systems. It is, however, often approached from a deterministic and technical perspective yet requires social, cultural and institutional changes as part of the process of adopting new technology in the context of the digital government sectors. This study uses actor-network theory (ANT) for its closely related hybrid middle, translation features, token passing through to network stability and interessement, as a lens to shape and understand the complexities surrounding the adoption and use of BT, particularly in the public sector organisations. Using the land registration system in Sudan as a case study, the findings show that ANT provides an adequate lens through which to examine the role of emergent distributive technologies such as BT in shaping social and organisational processes. ANT further contributes to a more holistic adoption of BT in public sector organisations. In the case study, the proposed blockchain guided by ANT simplified the complexity of land processes for registration, selling, buying and ownership, eventually replacing multiple processes with single transactions while at the same time embedding security and transparency.