Do Information and Communication Technologies Affect Violent Conflict? Assessing the Role of Mobile Broadband in Contributing to Violence
Abstract
The growth of access to high-quality information and communication technologies (ICTs) globally holds implications far beyond opening new markets and enabling connection over distance. The same connection over distance can also spread conflict-inducing messages and allow coordination that reduces barriers for movements to become violent. ICTs can also enable state-level control, particularly for authoritarian regimes. Through panel data analysis of political violence, fragility, and peacefulness and leveraging control variables from a diverse set of sources, this line of inquiry concludes that while the proliferation of ICTs may correlate with dissatisfaction and political turmoil, as other research has demonstrated, these technologies do not sufficiently create opportunity structures on their own. Further, as the literature regarding both violent conflict in general and its relationship with ICTs suggests, government and development status matter. While lower developed countries experience more adverse effects from mobile broadband and higher developed countries experience more positive effects, regime type appears to slightly matter more, with less democratic states accumulating more risk with increased access to mobile broadband. The troubling implication is that the same states experiencing higher ICT growth from Americas chief rival, China, are the same countries most at risk for adverse effects from ICT growth.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 05, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1178424
Entities
People
- Curtis A Williamson
Organizations
- Marine Corps University