ICTs and Conflict Actors: The Effect of Conflict Actors' Use of ICTs on Dialogue and Peace Processes

我的博士项目将侧重于冲突参与者在对话或和平进程中使用信息和通信技术（ICT）的影响。近几十年来，信息和通信技术在冲突背景下以及因此在建设和平努力中稳步上升。总的来说，冲突的性质以及建设和平领域的性质正在向虚拟空间转变，这一点是明确的。目前，学术界和实践者就信息和通信技术在冲突和随后的建设和平背景下能够和应该发挥的作用进行了辩论。现在的基本问题首先是信息和通信技术如何重要，其次是何时重要，第三是对谁重要。在审查了大量关于信息和通信技术的文献之后，很明显，在冲突行为者在对话与和平进程中使用信息和通信技术可能产生的影响以及这些工具如何影响结果方面，显然缺乏经验证据。此外，在深入分析某些冲突行为体在其冲突背景下使用信通技术的方式方面存在差距。我的博士研究项目旨在了解冲突行为者使用信息和通信技术是否对对话或和平进程的结果产生影响，如果是，在什么条件下？通过分析冲突参与者使用信息通信技术及其对这些过程的影响，我的博士学位可以为这一高度相关的研究领域做出贡献，我的实证研究结果将对当地的政策制定者和实践者具有实际意义。

My PhD project will focus on the effect of conflict actors usingInformation and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in dialogue orpeace processes. ICTs have steadily been on the rise in conflictcontexts and consequently in peacebuilding efforts in recentdecades. Overall, the perspective is clear that the very nature ofconflict and consequently of the peacebuilding field istransforming towards a virtual space. Currently, academics andpractitioners have debated over the role that ICTs can and shouldplay in conflict and subsequently peacebuilding contexts. Theessential question now is firstly how ICTs matter, secondly when,and thirdly for whom. After reviewing the wealth of literature onICTs it became evident that there is a clear lack of empiricalevidence regarding the effect that ICTs might have when used byconflict actors in dialogue and peace processes and how thesetools might shape the outcome. Furthermore, there is a gap in thein-depth analysis of the ways that certain conflict actors use ICTswithin their conflict contexts. My PhD research project seeks tounderstand whether there is an effect of conflict actors' use of ICTson the outcome of dialogue or peace processes, and if so, underwhich conditions? By analyzing the use of ICTs by conflict actorsand its influence on these processes, my PhD can contribute to thishighly relevant field of study and my empirical findings will be ofpractical importance to both policymakers and practitioners on theground.