Why do governments exist? When do free markets work? Why are political ideologies always wrong? How are digital technologies changing the concept of good government?

The digital revolution sweeping through our lives is forcing us to think of government and politics in a completely new way. Just as the Industrial Revolution changed how we organise our communities, this brave book describes how the practice of government will change in the twenty-first century to an 'open source' model.

Smith demonstrates why governments need to stop basing decisions on ideological theory and start following the successful approaches of science and commerce, by using empirical evidence to make decisions that work in practice and also evolve.

Governments staying trapped in an ideological and industrial mindset will find it impossible to survive. Top-down imposed ideologies must give way to bottom-up lean policy development, and closed government departments will become open sourced government services.

Whilst this book is written for a general audience wanting to understand how digital is changing our world and how it should change our government, Smith also has much to say to those in power seeking to improve policy...if they are brave enough to glimpse an emerging future.