In Search of Local Knowledge on ICTs in Africa

IF 0.6 Q3 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Stability-International Journal of Security and Development Pub Date : 2015-06-30 DOI:10.5334/STA.FV

I. Gagliardone, Ashnah Kalemera, Lauren Kogen, Lillian Nalwoga, N. Stremlau, Wakabi Wairagala

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引用次数: 16

Abstract

This article explores whether, and to what extent, local knowledge features in research on the role of ICTs in statebuilding and peacebuilding in Africa, with a particular focus on neighboring Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia. We question whether the claims of the transformative power of ICTs are backed by ‘evidence’ and whether local knowledge – e.g., traditional mechanisms for conflict resolution – is taken into consideration by ICT-based development initiatives. To assess this, we systematically reviewed literature in the region, focusing on academic outputs as well as research published by non-governmental and governmental organizations. Several key findings emerged, including: 1) empirical evidence on the successful use of ICTs to promote peacebuilding and statebuilding is thin; 2) few differences exist between scholarship emanating from the Global North and from Africa; and 3) overall, the literature exhibits a simplistic assumption that ICTs will drive democratic development without sufficient consideration of how ICTs are actually used by the public.

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在非洲寻找ict的当地知识

本文探讨资讯通讯科技在非洲国家建设与和平建设中的作用，在研究中是否以及在多大程度上包含当地知识，并特别关注邻近的索马利亚、肯亚和衣索比亚。我们质疑信息通信技术变革力量的主张是否有“证据”支持，以及基于信息通信技术的发展倡议是否考虑了当地知识——例如解决冲突的传统机制。为了评估这一点，我们系统地回顾了该地区的文献，重点关注学术成果以及非政府组织和政府组织发表的研究。主要发现包括:1)成功利用信息通信技术促进建设和平与国家建设的经验证据不足;2)来自全球北方和非洲的学术差异不大;3)总体而言，文献展示了一个简单的假设，即信息通信技术将推动民主发展，而没有充分考虑公众如何实际使用信息通信技术。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Stability-International Journal of Security and Development INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS-

CiteScore

3.40

自引率

0.00%

发文量

审稿时长

11 weeks

期刊介绍： Stability: International Journal of Security & Development is a fundamentally new kind of journal. Open-access, it publishes research quickly and free of charge in order to have a maximal impact upon policy and practice communities. It fills a crucial niche. Despite the allocation of significant policy attention and financial resources to a perceived relationship between development assistance, security and stability, a solid evidence base is still lacking. Research in this area, while growing rapidly, is scattered across journals focused upon broader topics such as international development, international relations and security studies. Accordingly, Stability''s objective is to: Foster an accessible and rigorous evidence base, clearly communicated and widely disseminated, to guide future thinking, policymaking and practice concerning communities and states experiencing widespread violence and conflict. The journal will accept submissions from a wide variety of disciplines, including development studies, international relations, politics, economics, anthropology, sociology, psychology and history, among others. In addition to focusing upon large-scale armed conflict and insurgencies, Stability will address the challenge posed by local and regional violence within ostensibly stable settings such as Mexico, Brazil, Russia, India, Indonesia and elsewhere.