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在对话或和平进程中使用信息和通信技术(ICT)的冲突行为者的影响。近几十年来，信息和通信技术在冲突环境中稳步上升，并因此在建设和平努力中不断上升。总体而言，前景是明确的，冲突的性质以及由此导致的建设和平领域的性质是向虚拟空间转变的。目前，学术界和实践者就信息和通信技术可以而且应该在冲突和随后的建设和平环境中发挥的作用展开了辩论。现在的基本问题首先是信息和通信技术如何重要，其次是何时对谁重要，第三是对谁重要。审查了大量关于信息和通信技术的文献后发现，关于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，以及这些工具可能如何影响结果，显然缺乏经验证据。此外，在深入分析某些冲突行为者在其冲突背景下使用ICT的方式方面存在差距。我的博士研究项目旨在了解冲突各方使用ICT是否会对对话或和平进程的结果产生影响，如果会，在什么情况下会产生影响？通过分析冲突各方对信息和通信技术的使用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.