Digital Governance Frameworks for Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) in Regional Integration

Abstract

Can blockchain-based decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) revolutionize regional integration, or is it an evanescent promise? This research addressed the crisis of confidence that has been haunting institutions like the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU), whose central authorities could not deliver on transparency and inclusivity. The objectives were to unbundle DAOs' potential, assess their place in regional architectures, and propose a hybrid governance model. Mixed-methods with qualitative case analysis of the AU, EU, and Aragon DAO complemented with 30 interviews of stakeholders and comparison grounded the research. Findings showed DAOs' potential in making transparency more possible, as the $10 million Aragon's treasury example showed, and enrolling people in it but with accompanying hurdles from digital divides (37% internet reach in Africa) and resistance from elites. A hybrid solution that stacked DAOs for open decision-making, traditional control for stabilization, and interface modules for useability emerged. Five proposals that involved piloting DAOs for transparency, modeling inclusive voting, investing in infrastructures, creating regulations, and fostering cultural dialogue charted the way forward. This research compelled regional leaders to act with haste, coupling code with human trust to make government inclusive. It enriched theory and practice of contemporary governance and foresaw an achievable world where oneness was not elite-driven but common.