Abstract
This chapter explores digital drivers of conflict. We examine how technologies are affecting conflict dynamics and what peacebuilders can do to mitigate these effects. We argue that because digital technologies are fundamentally altering the human experience, they are by extension fundamentally altering conflicts. We propose a framework for understanding the impact of technology on conflict, and lay out a holistic vision for categorising different peacebuilding interventions that, in sum, contribute to the emerging field of digital Peacebuilding.
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Notes
- 1.
The Digital Peace Now Initiative is a global movement calling for an end to cyber warfare https://digitalpeacenow.org/about-us/.
- 2.
See for example this course developed by Build Up introducing a framework for digital peacebuilding https://howtobuildup.org/community-learning/courses/digital-peacebuilding-101-introducing-technology-for-peacebuilding/.
- 3.
See for example https://www.beyondintractability.org/userguide/identity-conflicts.
- 4.
See Build Up present the results of their research at the Stockholm Forum 2020 on ‘Online Identity Formation: A Growing Challenge to Peace’ here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbCwaM20kXQ.
- 5.
See for example, https://www.peacetechlab.org/toolbox-lexicons.
- 6.
You can view their work at https://en.salamatech.org/.
- 7.
You can view their campaigns at https://www.facebook.com/the.Peace.Factory/.
- 8.
You can find out more about this at https://redirectmethod.org/.
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Puig Larrauri, H., Morrison, M. (2022). Understanding Digital Conflict Drivers. In: Mahmoudi, H., Allen, M.H., Seaman, K. (eds) Fundamental Challenges to Global Peace and Security . Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-79072-1_9
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