e-Stonia: Sui generis Governance

As of late, e-government has become an increasingly discussed issue in academia and politics. The whole world has turned its attention to Estonia, the tiny Baltic state that has climbed to the top of global e-development, notably thanks to its e-voting system. In an attempt to catch up, the rest of the developed and developing countries, as well as researchers, have expressed interest in the reliability of the Estonian model of e-government but also in the ease and speed with which such a model of digitalisation could be implemented. This article uses the case study method and follows precisely the arguments, counter-arguments, and, of course, the evidence that has been brought to the table, either for or against the e-Stonian model, as reflected in research previously published in several academic journals. This article concludes that the Estonian system is characterised by safety and effectiveness, having been implemented relatively quickly and without particular difficulties. Thus, the Estonian model is a model worth following for global policymakers. The paper adds value to the academic setting in which it was written by bringing up to date the development of the Estonian e-government system and highlighting crucial aspects that other countries can take up in their digitalisation of the public system.