The impact of digitalization of the economy upon social governance: analysis of current global trends

Abstract

The subject of this research is the modern system of social governance, which has been transformed in the conditions of digital environment. Particular attention is given to the definition of electronic-digital civilization and its criteria. The concept of “electronic-digital civilization”, with emphasis on the transitional state of society, was introduced into the scientific discourse by the Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences G. V. Osipov. The goal of this article is to determine the criteria of this concept. Description is given the innovative methods and techniques of social governance, namely those that depend on digitalization of the economy. The events of 2020-2021, related to the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrated the increase of digitalization of human life and nonlinearity of social development. The shift of industrial era towards modern electronic-digital era entails qualitative transformations in the lifestyle of the entire humanity, which certainly requires the implementation of innovative methods in social governance. The author outlines the basic criteria of electronic-digital stage in the development of humanity. The analysis of scientific literature indicates a wide range of scientific research in the sphere of humanities are dedicated to examination of the effects of digitalization in the economy. However, the emerging social issues in the conditions of digital environment require expert evaluation of sociologists, psychologists, political scientists, and legal experts. The article determines the modern forms and methods of social governance, which are currently implemented by the industrially developed countries. The fundamental factor of transformation of the style of governance became the process of all-round “digitalization of the economy”. The statistical data on the “effects of digitalization” is provided. The author explores such modern trends in governance, such as “E–government”, transitioning to “Digital government”, “Soft–power” technologies, “Agile methodology”, transition to 5G, etc.