The Digitalisation of Peacebuilding and its Impact on Conflict-Sensitive Communication for Development

Abstract: For more or less two decades, the application of information and communication technology (ICT) in the realm of peacebuilding has successfully contributed to the transformation of armed conflicts and, thus, made social change and development in conflictive environments possible where traditional mechanisms reached their limits. However, they can also have the opposite effect as they simultaneously bear the potential to undermine participatory processes, re-enforce exclusion, and disempower those affected by conflict.  Hence, using ICT during peace processes both offers opportunities and poses challenges to peacebuilders. Here, traditional peacebuilding mechanisms featuring offline participation in peace processes remain a viable option. In my thesis, I argue that the digitalisation of peacebuilding can only contribute to development if also traditional means are considered to achieve the overarching goal to build peace in the realm of conflict-sensitive communication. Thus, the digital and traditional spheres of peacebuilding have to be both intertwined complementarily - creating a "hybrid" form of peacebuilding.