Conceptualising the web for post-conflict governance building

Abstract

Interest in using the web in the broad field of peacebuilding is growing, notably among practitioners and policymakers. The premise for such an interest often rests on assumptions that have not yet received rigorous critical examination. By problematising the relationship between the social and the technological, this paper proposes a socio-technical approach to understanding the uses of the web in postconflict settings. More specifically this paper examines how the web is conceptualised in contexts of post-conflict governance building, and what implications this has, by exploring the design and evaluation of a range of projects. Related academic research in the field mentions the web and other communication technologies only in relation to transnational web use by diasporas. Meanwhile, recent pilot projects conducted by international organisations and others in the related areas of conflict prevention and governance building in developing countries provide invaluable evidence of both the importance of the web in post-conflict settings and the urgent need for a deeper, more critical understanding of these uses. Specifically, multiple and sometimes contradictory conceptualisations of the web are in play, with very different implications for current understanding and future development of the web in post-conflict governance building efforts.

Digital Peacebuilding: A Framework for Critical–Reflexive Engagement

“…For instance, Kahl and Larrauri (2013 , 2) point to opportunities of "participation" and "empowerment" that arise when citizens use new technologies to "engage and connect at the local level to mitigate conflict." Technology has also commonly been viewed as a catalyst for social and political change processes, opening political spaces or enabling accountable and transparent governance ( Welch, Halford, and Weal 2015 ). Such claims demonstrate what Gaskell et al (2016 , 2) have called the "positive bias" among many practitioners and policymakers "in favour of the transformative potential of ICTs."…”

ICT Enabled Peace Network: Case Study of Conflict Early Warning System in Kenya

“…While peace research has emphasized the empowerment of people to participate in localized conflict management efforts, they have not considered the role ICTs can play, and the new opportunities they can potentially enable (Gaskell, 2019;Welch et al, 2014;Mancini & Reilly, 2013). Empowerment concerns the ability to share one's voice or opinion as well as to take part in existing peace-building processes (Gaskell, 2019), which is enabled through generating, sharing, and acting on data (Kahl & Larrauri, 2013).…”

“…Empowerment concerns the ability to share one's voice or opinion as well as to take part in existing peace-building processes (Gaskell, 2019), which is enabled through generating, sharing, and acting on data (Kahl & Larrauri, 2013). This includes the processes of information sharing or communication (Welch et al, 2014), management and mobilization (Mancini & Reilly, 2013), and providing alternative spaces for participation (Gaskell, 2019;Welch et al, 2015;Turner, 2008).…”

Deconstructing the data life-cycle in digital humanitarianism

“…This includes the empowerment of women in developing countries supporting community building, political organisation and the participation in feminist movements (Hilbert, 2011). Furthermore, ICT have found attention in peace-building (Welch et al, 2015). However, the optimism expressed by some of the actors in the aid industry concerning these new developments is accompanied by a critical assessment of the affordances of ICT (Unwin, 2017).…”