The Role of Social Capital in Mediating ICT-Enabled Peace Building Efforts: A Case Study from Kenya
Résumé
Inter-ethnic violence has flared in recent years across Kenya’s periphery due to struggles around processes of political devolution, corrupt systems of governance, elite sponsorship, cattle rustling, climate change, famine, land, politicization of ethnic relations and illicit arms. Violence has resulted in loss of life, loss of livelihood, increased hatred between communities and large-scale displacement. New ways of violence prevention are needed to achieve sustainable peace, and contribute to broader efforts of social development. This article analyses the implications of integrating ICT in mitigation of ethnic violence in Northwestern Kenya. The theoretical lens of social capital is used, with a focus on different forms of bonding, bridging and linking to analyse how ICTs can reduce those forms of capital that enhance violence and simultaneously promotes those that can promote peace. Our study finds that relatively simple ICT applications that can help inform anonymously on potential violent conditions and initiate speedy and effective response to them, can help promote binding social capital at the expense of bonding forms. This changing dynamics around the constitution of social capital has contributed to effectively promoting peace building efforts. The paper thus contributes to the important domain of ‘ICTs for Peace’ research and more broadly to ICT4D.
Origine | Fichiers produits par l'(les) auteur(s) |
---|