The Balsillie School of International Affairs has launched the Balsillie Case Studies, a repository of evidence-based true stories of technology-related governance dilemma across various sectors globally. The case study series is one of the flagship programs of the Technology Governance Initiative that the BSIA launched in 2023.
The cases present a wide range of the contemporary governance challenges facing the world today, including the rapid development of generative AI; the spread of mis/disinformation giving rise to concerns about data security, sovereignty and platform governance; the role of multilateral institutions in reducing the technological inequality among nations; and the lessons policymakers could take from Spain’s boom and bust of solar energy production.
“Whether in the field of law, migration, human rights, health, security, or economics, transformative technology is impacting all sectors and the way in which they function. It is important that the world’s governance and policy frameworks also evolve to reflect this transformative change,” said Ann Fitz-Gerald, Director of BSIA. “The Balsillie Case Studies will be of interest to academics, students, policymakers and industry leaders who are studying the challenges and the existing governance frameworks. The cases will facilitate relevant and coal-face problem-solving and simulation in the classroom.”
Each case study is accompanied with a teaching note for instructors to unpack the big picture questions and an analysis to guide discussions in workshops and classrooms. The case studies in the repository are available for purchase by graduate schools and independent users at academic and individual rates.
“The Balsillie Case Studies are a unique pedagogical instrument designed to understand the impacts of transformative technologies across all walks of life. There is a sense of urgency in each of these cases either to avert an imminent threat or reimagine the way of doing things, and that makes them timely and relevant,” said Saad Hammadi, Policy and Advocacy Manager at BSIA.
Human interaction with technology on a day-to-day basis makes its governance so important to understand. The cases, produced after a rigorous round of peer reviews, are designed to analyze the purpose of the new technologies, review the national and international governance frameworks, and examine loopholes and bottlenecks, so that users can deliberate the appropriate interventions and governance innovation.
“The governance challenges that policymakers and industry leaders face in the implementation and adaptation of new technologies are wide and diverse. They range from accountability and transparency to intellectual property protection and data privacy, to name just a few. The Balsillie Case Studies seek to capture those challenges in a storytelling format that is accessible to a multidisciplinary audience,” said Ann Fitz-Gerald.
For more information please contact:
Saad Hammadi, Manager, Policy and Advocacy, BSIA: shammadi@balsillieschool.ca
About Balsillie Case Studies:
Balsillie Case Studies are evidence-based true stories of technology governance challenges produced by the Balsillie School of International Affairs, an institute for advanced research, education, and outreach in the fields of global governance and international public policy.