As this chapter closed however, we heard from many of our readers and began a conversation around what role a reconstituted Governing might effectively play in the future.
Our ideas have taken shape. While many elements go into this planning, our observation is that exponential leaps in technology are challenging the policies and strategies in how we govern.
It is out of these colliding forces that we see an important role for Governing going forward.
A New Focus
Governing: The Future of States and Localities takes on the question of what state and local government looks like in a world of rapidly advancing technology.Briefly looking back before looking forward: The start of the 20th century saw dramatic social upheaval brought about by rapid industrialization and urbanization. Out of this tumult the Progressive Era was born, defined by a new kind of public leader – including people like Teddy Roosevelt, fellow progressive and four-term New York governor Al Smith, and others who championed a new governing agenda.
In our own time, technology’s accelerating rate of change is escalating disruption in foundational systems including finance, communication, transportation, labor, manufacturing, media, education and politics.
Beyond that we face even more consequential challenges to our notions of privacy, security, equity and perhaps the very nature of democracy and civil society.
We are launching the new Governing as a resource for elected and appointed officials and other public leaders who seek smart insights and a forum to better understand and manage through this era of change.
It is not our aim to write about how state and local governments are using technology to do their business. Our sister site, Government Technology, does a great job of that. Our beat is this collision of technology and society and the fallout consequences, intended and unintended, that confront public leaders and increasingly influence their policy, legislation and strategies to govern.
The scope of topics we will cover are as broad as the challenges we face: artificial intelligence, privacy, big data, security, the future of work, urban planning, financial systems and more. To tell this important story our team will include great journalists, but we will also hear from historians, ethicists, urban planners and others who can give context to our times and help our readers “see around the corners” of the future.
We understand that for some readers nothing will match Governing as it was. We also believe many of you will join us on this journey and, in the process, we will find a broad and vital new audience for Governing.
The new Governing launches in January 2020.
Governing is a division of e.Republic.
