The Digital Divide: A National Security Argumentative Analysis within a South African Context

1. The Digital Divide: A National Security Argumentative Analysis within a South African Context Jackie Phahlamohlaka Mapule Modise Nthumeni Nengovhela ICT Uses in Warfare and the Safeguarding of Peace 11/10/10

2. Outline • Background • Aim • Framework of analysis • Definition of concepts • Digital Divide • National Security • Analysis of the digital divide framed within • the determinants of national power • Conclusion

3. Advances in ICT • Economists – Social and economic progression of nation states • Academic – offer unprecedented opportunity to overcome existing social division and equalities • Politician – fundamental aspect of citizenship • However, ICT brought with it a DIGITAL DIVIDE Background

4. Aim To stimulate scholarly debate on how the arguments about the digital divide contributes to our understanding of National Security issues within the South African context.

5. Workshop on ICT uses in peace and warfare Framework of analysis Hegelian dialectical approach: point – counter point analysis • Digital divide arguments framework • National security analysis framework

6. The gap between those who have access to ICT resources and the ability to use them in comparison to those who do not have. • Assumption: those who have access to and can effectively use ICTs are participants in the digital and information economy. Digital Divide Definition

7. Dimensions of Digital Divide • Economic Equality • Social Mobility • Democracy • Economic growth • General development goals

8. National Security Definition • David Jablonsky defines National Security as that part of government policy whose objective is to create national and international political conditions that are favourable to the protection or the extension of vital national values against existing or potential adversaries.

9. National Security Definition Our definition. The provision of security to the state and of human security to its citizens as well as the protection of national and human interests together with state borders through the projection of national power. To understand National Security, one must understand the elements of national power and how they interrelate.

10. Determinants of National Power • Natural determinants • Geography and resources • Population • Social deteminants • Economical • Political • Military • Psychological • Informational

11. Analysis of the Digital Divide and National Security

12. Analysis of the Digital Divide and National Security

13. Analysis of the Digital Divide and National Security

14. Analysis of the Digital Divide and National Security

15. Analysis of the Digital Divide and National Security

16. Conclusion Whereas the digital divide debate has recognised the interconnectedness of technology access to social factors, uneven development, and global capitalism, it still fails to map all these into the National Security debate. As a result, we conclude that any debate on the digital divide that does not take into account the National Security issues remains incomplete.

17. ??? Thank you ICT Uses in Warfare and the Safeguarding of Peace