This report explores the ways in which ICTs and the data they generate can assist international actors, governments, and civil society organizations to more effectively prevent violence and conflict. It examines the contributions that cell phones, social media, crowdsourcing, crisis mapping, blogging, and big data analytics can make to short-term efforts to forestall crises and to long-term initiatives to address the root causes of violence. Five case studies assess the use of such tools in a variety of regions (Africa, Asia, Latin America) experiencing different types of violence (criminal violence, election-related violence, armed conflict, short- term crisis) in different political contexts (restrictive and collaborative governments).
Content includes:
Introduction by Francesco Mancini
“Big Data for Conflict Prevention: New Oil and Old Fires” by Emmanuel Letouzé, Patrick Meier, and Patrick Vinck
“Using Information and Communication Technologies for Violence Prevention in Latin America” by Robert Muggah and Gustavo Diniz
“Early Warning and the Role of New Technologies in Kenya” by Godfrey M. Musila
“Conflict Cure or Curse? Information and Communication Technologies in Kyrgyzstan” by Anna Matveeva
“New Technologies and Conflict Prevention in Sudan and South Sudan” by Helena Puig Larrauri
“Conclusion: New Technology in Conflict Prevention” by Francesco Mancini and Marie O’Reilly