이 논문은 4차 산업혁명 시대의 주요 공적 갈등에 대해 검토한 후, 그 해결을 위한 의사결정 방법으로서 블록체인 기술을 활용한 민주주의에 대해 탐색하고 있다. 공적 갈등의 해결 방법으로서의 ‘민주주의’에 대한 샤츠슈나이더(E. E. Schattschneider)의 관점을 바탕으로, 먼저 4차 산업혁명 시대에 노동력의 양극화와 그에 따른 소득 불평등 및 사회적 양극화라는 대표적인 공적 갈등구조를 확인하였다. 그리고 대의민주주의가 안고 있는 여러 가지 문제점의 보완과 대체를 지향하는 가운데 참여민주주의와 직접민주주의 등을 구현할 수 있는 블록체인 기술을 활용한 민주주의에 대해 주목하였다. 블록체인 기술은 4차 산업혁명의 핵심 기술 가운데 하나로 평가될 뿐만 아니라, 분권성과 공유성을 비롯하여 수평적 거버넌스의 구축과 운영이라는 특징을 갖고 있다. 향후 공직선거에까지 그 활용 범위를 확장하려면 기술적 제약의 극복, 정보격차 해소, 사회구성원들의 신뢰 구축 및 정치의식의 혁신적 전환이 요청된다. 이와 함께 4차 산업혁명 시대에 요구되는 민주시민의 자질과 역량의 배양이 필요함도 밝히고 있다.
This paper studied the public conflict(social cleavage) in the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution. And, as a solution to public conflict, I explored democracy using block chain technology. First, I discussed ‘politics’ as a solution to public conflicts and ‘democracy’ as one of the mothods for solving public conflicts. Based on this, I analyzed a solution to public conflicts surrounding the “market” and “state” after the modern society, and the flow of democracy including representative democracy. Based on this perception, as a public conflict in the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution, I analyzed the polarization of the labor force, income inequality, and social polarization. In addition, I analyzed human labor was replaced by machines, and accordingly, the problems of dehumanization such as labor alienation, idleness, and human alienation the faced by mankind. However, these factors of conflict are human dignity, freedom and equality, and all of which are related to the basic ideology of democracy.
On the other side, as a decision-making method to resolve public conflicts in the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution, I searched for a democracy using block chain technology that can apply the characteristics of participatory democracy and direct democracy together. And it will be supplementing various problems that of representative democracy.
Block chain technology is evaluated as the core technology of the 4th Industrial Revolution that based on artificial intelligence and information and communication technology. And it has features and expected effects that enable decentralization and horizontal governance. And it has a connection to democracy. I collected and analyzed cases of using block chain technology at home and abroad. I reviewed the current status, implications, problems and tasks of each case. I think that block chain technology will be used for public office elections in the future. To do this, it is necessary to solve the security problem that the current block chain technology has. In addition, there should be improvements in conditions such as technological constraints and bridging the information gap. Of course, there must be a change of political consciousness and building trust among members of society. Also, I suggested that it is necessary to cultivate the qualities and capabilities required in the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution as a democratic citizen.