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The Dilemma of Governance: Technology vs Human Connection
Context
The recent news highlighted a discussion on the pitfalls of over-reliance on technology in governance and the need to prioritise human interaction.
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Negative Impact of Consumerism and Advertising
- Advertising often exploits human insecurities to drive consumption, fostering consumerism, and undermining genuine human connections.
- This perpetuates a belief that technology can replace meaningful human interactions.
- Example: Plastic was identified in 93% of the samples, which included major name brands such as Aqua, Aquafina, Dasani, Evian, Nestle Pure Life and Bisleri.
Concerns about Technological Solutions in Governance
- The increasing reliance on technological solutions raises questions about their ability to substitute for human and societal connections in governance.
- There’s uncertainty about whether these solutions truly address needs or contribute to a culture of inadequacy.
- Example: Jam Trinity, an abbreviation for Jan Dhan Yojna, Aadhaar and Mobile has raised significant concerns about privacy and data security due to the sharing of personal data, including biometrics, across multiple platforms.
Importance of Human Interaction
- Over-reliance on technology overlooks critical human-society interaction, leading to deficiencies in last-mile service delivery.
- While technology can streamline governance processes, the neglect of long-term policy interventions and anthropocene challenges may worsen societal issues.
- Example: Values like Empathy, ethical decision making, equity, etc. enhance human interaction by fostering trust, understanding, and cooperation among individuals.
Anthropocene Challenges:
It refers to the environmental problems caused by human activity.
Some of them are:
- Extreme climatic conditions
- Natural resource contamination,
- E-waste proliferation,
- Biodiversity loss,
- Deforestation,
- Ocean acidification,
- Air pollution,
- Urbanisation pressures.
Anthropocene
- Anthropocene highlights the prominent role of human activities in shaping the Earth’s current state.
- It’s characterised by widespread changes in the environment, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and alterations to the Earth’s land surface.
Technology cannot replace humans in governance
Unforeseen Circumstances:
- Humans can adapt and find creative solutions in unpredictable situations, while technology may encounter limitations or breakdowns.
- Example: Humans possess intimate knowledge of disaster-affected areas, including geographical, cultural, and social context during any unforeseen disaster.
Ethical Decision-Making:
- Humans possess moral judgement crucial for navigating complex situations in last-mile delivery, a quality lacking in technology.
- Example: Environmental degradation often disproportionately affects marginalised communities. So a moral judgement would excel over technological solutions.
Sustainable development and intergenerational equity:
- It requires holistic decision-making that considers long-term impacts on the environment, society, and economy.
- Example: Chaukhambha Model introduced by Ram Manohar Lohia refers to a development model that emphasises balanced regional development.
Complexity of Human Interaction:
- Last-mile delivery requires understanding local contexts, addressing individual needs, and building trust, which technology struggles to replicate.
- Example: SDG localization addresses the unique social, economic, and cultural contexts of different communities.
Conclusion
- In conclusion, while technology can enhance governance processes, it cannot entirely replace humans.
- Therefore, a balanced approach that leverages technology while recognizing the irreplaceable role of human judgement, intuition, and empathy is necessary for effective governance.
