Mapping Technologies for Peace and Conflict: From the Weaponization of Social Media to Digital Peacebuilding and Peacetech
Featuring Lisa Schirch, Incoming Richard G. Starmann, Sr. Professor of the Practice in Peace Studies
This presentation will provide a survey of the best and worst impacts of technology on peacebuilding. Beginning with an overview of how social media platforms’ profit models and designs amplify hate and undermine democracy, this lecture will exlore social media’s impact in a dozen countries in the Global South that offer an insight into the devastating effects of technology.
The presentation will then move on to map how technologies assist in eight peacebuilding functions, from conflict analysis to building social movements to conducting mediations and building inclusive peace processes.
The presentation is based on Schirch’s recent edited book, Social Media Impacts on Conflict and Democracy: The Techtonic Shift and her forthcoming book, Digital Peacebuilding and Peacetech.
This lecture will be recorded and posted on the Kroc Institute's YouTube channel within 48 hours following the event.