Sensing and Shaping Emerging Conflicts Report of a Workshop by the National Academy of Engineering and United States Institute of Peace Roundtable on Technology, Science, and Peacebuilding (2013) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
5 Major Issues Discussed at the Workshop
5 Major Issues Discussed at the Workshop
Pages 43-50
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 43... ...
The other issues concerned the existence and significance of a digital divide, the role of the private sector, and the need for unity among peacebuilding organizations. FROM SENSING TO SHAPING Fred Tipson set the context for the discussion of shaping policies on the basis of data by noting that the peacebuilding community often lacks actionable strategies to convert sensing into shaping.
|
From page 44... ...
Also on the issue of political will, Sanjana Hattotuwa noted that an emerging information landscape will make it more difficult for policymakers not to act when presented with actionable information. Information about atrocities such as ongoing genocides will inevitably reach the rest of the world rather than staying in a particular region, as might have happened in
|
From page 45... ...
THE DIGITAL DIVIDE Despite the rapid advances of technologies in recent years, several workshop participants wondered whether digital divides between individuals, groups, regions, and countries still limit progress in the application of technology to peacebuilding. As technologies have become less expensive and more widespread, concerns about creating a culture of information haves and have-nots have faded, Prabhakar Raghavan noted, although he recognized that digital divides have not completely disappeared.
|
From page 46... ...
That desire "is not well served by doing anything that's tactically expedient and strategically evil." Companies such as Twitter have tried to act in a responsible manner, while institutions like the United Nations do not necessarily have the infrastructure to undertake similar functions. "Hopefully the people running these companies aren't going to compromise their long-term integrity for a quick buck." Private companies may, however, apply standards to the posting of information.
|
From page 47... ...
"The assumption that the peacebuilders themselves are benevolent creatures working in the best interests of their communities and their nations and their peoples is, I think, something that we need to question, because that is not always the case." Melanie Greenberg called attention to the intersection of peacebuilding organizations with organizations focused on democracy, development, health, education, and other issues as a way of building unity. Many of these organizations increasingly see themselves as engaged in peacebuilding, she said, and even those that do not are sensitive to doing their work in such a way as not to exacerbate tensions.
|
From page 48... ...
As governments have gotten more sophisticated in their approaches to controlling communications, countries and groups that support liberalization need to become more sophisticated as well. Technology can serve civil disobedience and civil mobilization, Tipson said, as a component of broader strategies for political change.
|
From page 49... ...
MAJOR ISSUES DISCUSSED AT THE WORKSHOP 49 dispute resolution, postconflict reconciliation, or opposition to authoritarian regimes. Those involved in peacebuilding and technological development can benefit by working together to determine what capabilities would help in each of these settings, and how technology can help provide those capabilities.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.