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- Convenors:
-
Michael Asiedu
(Institute of Political Science -(HSG- IPW))
Thompson Gyedu Kwarkye (University of Oxford)
Katharina Schramm (University of Bayreuth)
Natéwindé Sawadogo (Université Thomas SANKARA)
Jia Hui Lee (University of Bayreuth)
Send message to Convenors
- Chairs:
-
Katharina Schramm
(University of Bayreuth)
Michael Asiedu (Institute of Political Science -(HSG- IPW))
- Format:
- Panel
- Stream:
- Perspectives on current crises
- Location:
- S64 (RW I)
- Sessions:
- Wednesday 2 October, -, -
Time zone: Europe/Berlin
Short Abstract:
This panel knits together interdisciplinary approaches to the study of technology politics in Africa. We interrogate timely debates on the development, deployment, and regulation of technologies spearheading Africa’s digitization agenda.
Long Abstract:
Emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cyber Security, Cryptocurrencies, Internet of Things (IoT), and Automation play a major role in global discussions on labour productivity, transforming democratic institutions, healthcare, finance, education, or climate mitigation. They are also a space for ordinary people to regularly participate and represent and project versions of self. Africa remains uniquely placed to leverage both benefits and problems associated with these technologies. Over the last decade, three questions have come to the fore around Africa’s technology development. First, many African countries are still debating which approach(es) and policies could maximise technology benefits and minimise potential risks. Second, much thought has gone into the extent to which AI, automation, data privacy and broader IoT developments would impact geopolitical relations with players like the United States or China. Third, concerns remain around challenges posed by technology developed in the Global North, which “tends” to overlook systemic biases, contextual nuances and the opacity surrounding transparency and data protection.
This panel situates some of these technology concerns in African politics and aims to find pathways that reflect African responses. We examine how technology is intertwined both in democratic processes and autocratic manipulation of technology. We will probe the drivers of technology development and the roles of ideology in technology regulation, as these are significant ingredients in the call to reconfigure Africa’s institutions and practices. Overall, we are interested in how African experiences and epistemologies may challenge and/or forge new ways of understanding digital practices and materialities.
Accepted papers:
Session 1 Wednesday 2 October, 2024, -Paper short abstract:
The transition to a more sustainable energy future is one of the most pressing challenges of our time, and it's clear that the cooperation of government, the private sector, and civil society is necessary to achieve this goal. This paper explores the role of the youth in this development in Nigeria.
Paper long abstract:
This paper explores the role of the youth in green energy development, adaptation, and sustainability in Nigeria. The aim is to analyze the level of involvement, strategies, and approaches used by government and cooperative organizations to ensure youth involvement in this all-important venture. With a combination of the explorative Historical methodologies of Oral Interviews, Participatory Observations, Books, Articles, and Internet Sources, the paper submits that: Youth involvement in green energy development and adaption in Nigeria is vital, as they are the next generation of consumers and leaders. The youth can play a key role in promoting green energy through initiatives such as education and advocacy and by supporting the development of renewable energy sources and technologies. In addition to environmental benefits, the youth can also benefit economically from the transition to green energy, as it can create new job opportunities and boost economic development which in turn, promotes democracy and good governance in Nigeria. Despite the potential benefits, there are also challenges to the transition to green energy, such as the cost of implementing new technologies and the need for infrastructure development. However, with the right policies and support, the youth can help to overcome these challenges and ensure a sustainable future for Nigeria. It is, therefore, essential to involve the youth in decision-making and policy-making processes related to green energy adaptation, development, and sustainability in Nigeria to ensure a bright and sustainable future for the country.
Keywords: Green Energy, Development, Climate Change, Youth Participation, Nigeria.
Paper short abstract:
The research highlights technology's democratizing potential, addressing risks like digital surveillance and information manipulation. It underscores the need for adaptive regulatory frameworks to balance innovation and democratic principles in African countries.
Paper long abstract:
This research endeavors to provide a nuanced understanding of the dynamic interplay between technology and politics in the African context. Focusing on the continent's diverse socio-political landscape, the study conducts a comprehensive analysis of emerging technologies and their multifaceted implications for governance, political participation, and socio-economic development. The investigation begins by mapping the current technological landscape in Africa, examining the penetration and adoption rates of key technologies such as mobile connectivity, internet access, and the deployment of cutting-edge innovations. The research delves into the impact of these technologies on political processes, electoral systems, and government-citizen interactions, taking into account regional variations and disparities. Moreover, the study critically evaluates the role of social media, data analytics, and artificial intelligence in shaping political narratives and influencing public opinion. Through a comparative analysis of case studies from various African nations, the research aims to identify patterns, challenges, and opportunities associated with the integration of technology into political spheres. A key focus of the analysis is on the potential democratizing effects of technology, exploring how increased connectivity and information dissemination can empower marginalized voices and foster inclusive political participation. Conversely, the research also investigates the risks and challenges posed by technology, such as the potential for digital surveillance, cyber threats, and the manipulation of information for political purposes. In addition, the study assesses the regulatory frameworks governing technology in different African countries, highlighting the need for adaptive policies that balance innovation with safeguarding democratic principles.
Paper short abstract:
I present an analysis of power relations in the digipolitical through the reading lenses of African communitarianism.
Paper long abstract:
How does relationality, a pillar of African communitarianism, play out in the digipolitical? The neologism digipolitical has its rationale in two aspects: the characters of the digitality, and the political subjects’ post-humanistic onto-relational nature. The digitality constitutes a tech-enabled, highly interactive cyber socio-political space, which offers the stage for encounters and relations among the digital ‘alter-ego’ of analogue individuals. These digital-humans epitomise an almost-autonomous instance of post-humanist existence and a new type of political subject. A political reading of their humanness can disclose the relational models ordering power and power relations among the digital-humans.
My contribution argues for an analysis of relationality in the digipolitical through the reading lenses of African communitarianism. The latter cherishes a relational approach to political ontologies and normativities, emphasising power structures of collaboration, cooperation, and mutuality, based on interdependency and communalism. A critical assessment of the reworkings of African-communitarian relationality in the digital reads many instances of contemporary virtual and analogue materialities.
The analysis builds a dialogue among political theory, African philosophy, and post-humanistic theories to discuss the ambivalent readings of communitarian relationality in the digital. Some scholars hail African communitarianism as the guideline for the digital-humanity, due to its humane tenets enabling the coexistence of human and non-human entities, including technology and the digital. Conversely, critics assert that the capitalist-driven big-tech companies’ agenda structures the digital, unescapably reducing the human to self-centred atomised units and displacing other-oriented political ontologies.
Paper short abstract:
This paper examines when civil society organisations (CSOs) challenge government-ordered inter-net shutdowns in Africa. I argue that CSOs go to court in unfavourable autocratic contexts when they engage in supportive alliances, both domestically and across borders.
Paper long abstract:
This paper examines when civil society organisations (CSOs) challenge government-ordered inter-net shutdowns in Africa. I argue that CSOs go to court in unfavourable autocratic contexts when they engage in supportive alliances, both domestically and across borders. Using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis, I systematically link documented internet shutdowns in African countries between 2011 and 2023 to configurations of relevant organizational properties such as leadership, resources, collaboration and partnerships, and solidarity networks. The results support a positive relationship between collaborations and partnerships as well as solidarity networks in countries that
experienced an internet shutdown lawsuit. The study also shows that independence, proximity, and speed are key reasons why CSOs decide to file cases in sub-regional courts. Overall, it underlines the importance of supportive alliances as a key factor in CSO decision to challenge incumbent governments` extra-legal digital rights reaches.
Paper short abstract:
While the debate continues on the prospects of technology in electoral credibility, this paper examines the role that technology played in previous elections in Nigeria, the prospects technology holds for future elections, and the challenges technology poses to the electoral and democratic process.
Paper long abstract:
This paper examines the role that technology has played in previous elections in Nigeria, the prospects technology holds for future elections, and the inherent challenges technology poses to the electoral and democratic process. The literature on the role of technology in elections and democracy has not been able to reach a consensus on the prospects of technology to improve the electoral process, while some are optimistic about the subject matter, others are rather pessimistic. Despite this unresolved debate, the deployment of technology for the electoral and democratic process in Africa, but specifically Nigeria, is on the increase. The paper relied on primary data, using the qualitative research method, and drawing insights from fourteen (14) key informant interviewees who were purposively selected based on their expertise, experience and practical involvement on the subject matter. Among others, findings reveal that technology has improved the electoral and democratic process in Nigeria; it has inherent challenges like technological glitches and political interference, environmental factors, inadequate trainings for handlers of technologies during elections, the high cost of deploying technologies, corruption, and the vulnerability of technologies, etc. The paper also found that technology has very good prospects to improve the electoral process in Nigeria, and that there is the need for the introduction of more technologies in future elections in Nigeria, however, with caution and gradually, rather than rushed. The paper recommends the need for sustained commitment to technological enhancement, including investing in advanced equipment and updating software, to address challenges and ensure trustworthy election outcomes.
Paper short abstract:
New technologies inspire new hopes for the future of work in developing countries, but they also bring risks. In this study, we look at the case of Ghana to see how technological risks shape people's preferences for a set of policies in an African context.
Paper long abstract:
As a nascent socio-economic literature argues, new technologies bring new hopes for the future of work in developing countries, but they also bring risks. In this study, we look at the case of Ghana to see how technological risks shape people's preferences for a set of policies. We draw on a novel dataset of 1,252 survey responses from Ghana and apply regression analysis and a qualitative data mapping technique to explore four central hypotheses: first, that both objective and subjective technological risks are positively correlated with a preference for a set of social policies; second, that digital skills and utilization potentially moderate the influence of technological risks on policy preferences; third, that the formality of employment conditions the relationship between technological risk and policy preferences; and fourth, that a greater exposure or perception of technological risk correlates with a stronger preference for job-related policies over other social policies. The results reveal a strong preference for active labor market policies and redistribution compared to other policy interventions. Digital literacy does not uniformly mitigate these concerns, but the analysis of qualitative responses explains why. Overall, this study contributes to the current debates on the future of work and social policy, in Africa. It is the first known study to offer insights into the social policy preferences of a workforce from a ‘global south’ perspective and provides implications for inclusive and responsive strategies in response to technological disruption in a developing country context.