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Protocol Design as Governance - Eric Alston

Lecture Eric Alston

Eric Alston presents a curricular module on protocol design as governance, drawing from institutional analysis and cryptocurrency contexts. He argues that protocol designers—whether in blockchain, AI, or standards organizations—must understand governance axioms and the critical role protocols play in coordinating pseudonymous participants in abstract networks.

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A Government Guide to Open Protocols

Public sector institutions can escape the false choice between proprietary vendor dependency and expensive in-house development by adopting open protocols, which distribute control across multiple actors and allow governments to understand, participate in, and adapt their digital infrastructure. European governments are increasingly implementing open protocols for messaging, digital ID, and cross-border services as a way to achieve digital sovereignty while reducing both software costs and geopolitical exposure.

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AI as Normal Technology

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