New Technologies: The Future of Alternative Infrastructures for Peace

The past decade has seen a rapid expansion of information, communication and networking technologies. This paper explores the processes that are being set in motion in the peacebuilding space by this technological growth. It describes three examples of processes that are affected by new technologies: early warning, dialogue and civil society networks. The changes enabled by technology in these processes present networked, decentralized alternatives to established frameworks, and are beginning to exert some pressure on incumbent systems and stakeholders.
This transformation of citizen-led initiatives is critical as we consider the future of peacebuilding. As alternative infrastructures promoting citizen-to-citizen solutions emerge, how will institutions remain relevant? Can this alternative method of getting something done not only get it done, but also exert influence on an existing, sometimes broken, method? We argue that the peacebuilding sector has the opportunity to engage with and support the growth of these so-called ‘alternative infrastructures’ so as to complement incumbent approaches.
To do so, communities must shape their priorities around for whom, by whom and how peace is built. Rather than dictating such priorities, peacebuilding organizations must focus programming on creating an enabling environment for an organic process to happen in a constructive and participatory manner. While this may seem like an uncertain, radical future, it is the natural corollary of giving millions of people access to new ways of gaining information, communicating their views and building networks from this greater understanding of their ability to affect change.