Abstract
The Yuan dynasty proverb ‘Heaven is high and the emperor is far away’ refers to a
setting in which the government is supreme, but far away, and so one can exercise
autonomy. In the blockchain context, this would mean that entrepreneurs had agency
in choosing their innovation (e.g. crypto, infrastructure, or other) across each of the
three Chinese cities. But, as the emperor gets closer, and still remains supreme in its power, there may be less and less distinct contextual rationalities informing technological innovations that are market-driven. Instead, innovators would either focus on infrastructure and public services, as those in Beijing do today, or relocate offshore. That state-led, monolith model, which only enables state-friendly forms of innovation in this technological frontier, may be the only one available to export.
setting in which the government is supreme, but far away, and so one can exercise
autonomy. In the blockchain context, this would mean that entrepreneurs had agency
in choosing their innovation (e.g. crypto, infrastructure, or other) across each of the
three Chinese cities. But, as the emperor gets closer, and still remains supreme in its power, there may be less and less distinct contextual rationalities informing technological innovations that are market-driven. Instead, innovators would either focus on infrastructure and public services, as those in Beijing do today, or relocate offshore. That state-led, monolith model, which only enables state-friendly forms of innovation in this technological frontier, may be the only one available to export.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Global Policy |
| Publication status | Published - 4 Aug 2022 |
Keywords
- China
- Blockchain
- Policy
- Startup
- AI
- Digitalisation
- Technology
- Innovation