Oct 27, 2009

Sponsor: CIMA

Digital Media in Conflict-Prone Societies

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Digital media in conflict-prone societies have the potential to foster dialogue and peace or to fuel hate speech and violence. The rapid spread of digital-based communications and information networks is likely to have an effect on 21st-century wars, which increasingly center on internal conflict, disputed borders of new states, and separatist movements.

At the same time, some of the most positive and innovative media projects are coming out of the developing world as people adopt networks and software applications for their own ends. Ushahidi, for example, is a Web site that was developed to map reports of violence in Kenya that followed the 2007 elections. It is currently expanding to create a global platform where anyone can gather reports of conflict–by mobile phone, e-mail, or the Internet–and map the crisis.

Ivan Sigal, the author of a forthcoming report called Digital Media in Conflict-Prone Societies, examined the theoretical background of these issues. He was followed by Erik Hersman, the founder of Ushahidi. :: MORE