Technology Politics in Africa

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

How is technology impacting the conduct of politics in African states? Is technology strengthening or weakening democracy in Africa? Throughout the world, technological innovations have changed the way politicians engage voters, how voters receive and process information about campaigns and political events, the conduct of politicians while in office, and the manner in which elections are conducted. For example, WhatsApp, Facebook, and other social media sites have enabled politicians and their detractors to rapidly spread (mis)information, bypassing legacy media outlets. At the same time, several countries have adopted biometric and tabulation technologies to register and identify voters on election day, and to relay vote results. Overall, the deployment of technology in politics has created opportunities for democratic consolidation while also disrupting the normal conduct of politics. This class will provide students with a broad understanding of politics in the digital era. While the material will focus on African states, throughout the semester we will make reference to examples from other parts of the world. At the end of the semester, students will have learned about: (i) how technology is reshaping the conduct of politics in Africa, (ii) the promise and peril of technological solutions to political problems, (iii) the nature of political participation among the youth in African states, and (iv) how analogue institutions may adapt to politics in the digital era.