This book describes the transition from basic automation to pervasive computing, ubiquitous computing, ambient intelligence, and the Internet of Things, and its effects on democratic decision-making and governance in Europe. It diagnoses a lack of political agency and technical capabilities in the West that has accelerated the end of the model of entrepreneurial government in favor of a new paradigm: Cyber-physical Systems. Offering an analysis of the digital transformation process in various industries and institutions, the book highlights the severe repercussions and impacts on democratic decision-making and the legitimacy of the Westphalian model of the nation-state. Readers will learn how the convergence of cloud systems, data platforms, and connected objects is facilitating this transformation process, one characterized by a virtual representation of every person, object, and machine – a digital twin.
The book argues for balancing centralization and decentralization in a cybernetic framework with human-centric values at its core. Further, it proposes a political framework that aims to develop a next-generation internet for the five hundred million citizens of Europe, one capable of enforcing and promoting digital hegemony while safeguarding the rights and proactive capabilities of said citizens. In closing, the book makes the case for a (6G) phone/hardware wallet built on European chip requirements and platforms and running on its own OS to promote technical European integration on infrastructure, applications, and services. Given its scope, the book will appeal to policymakers and practitioners interested in European digital governance and autonomy, as well as scholars of public administration, public policy, and political science.