Digital leadership: State governance in the era of digital technology

Abstract

The rise of digital technology, as represented by artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, cloud computing, big data, edge computing and 5G, is not only leading a new round of economic and industrial transformation, but also reshaping society and fundamentally transforming state governance. In retrospect, almost every recent catastrophe in China has been followed by substantial advances in the Chinese internet. While the COVID-19 pandemic poses a daunting challenge for the country, it has provided an opportunity for digital technology to be deployed in the fight against it. After COVID-19, it will be important to establish a model of governance that is compatible with digital technology, so a government with digital leadership will be a standard component of a digital society. Digital leadership and state capacity are theoretically based on the same foundation. Both are organic bodies supported by digital insights, digital decision-making, digital implementation and digital guidance, with digital thinking as the basis. All aspects collaborate throughout the process of state governance to assist its modernisation. Digital competence, platforms, government and talent should be improved as part of digital leadership.