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The integration and use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in African countries is increasingly observable in various sectors of activity (banking, education, trade, etc.) despite a digital divide still relevant. ICT has become a major sector of the recent growth of a new informal economy in African cities (Cheneau-Loquay, 2008). This question has been at the heart of various international meetings. An overall positive and even utopian momentum is generally heard about the contribution of digital technologies to the development of African states. The adoption or appropriation of digital technologies by Africans is presented in many speeches by politicians or institutions involved in the field of cooperation and international development as an important issue for the development of this continent. These different considerations give rise to reflections on the following themes. - Social Media and Public Space in Africa - Challenges of the digital economy in Africa - ICT and modernization of higher education in Africa
List of contents
Foreword xi
Nathalie PINÈDE
Introduction xvii
Julien ATCHOUA, Jean-Jacques BOGUI and Saikou DIALLO
Part 1 Social Media and the Public Space in Africa 1
Chapter 1 Civil Society in the Consolidation Process of Democracy in Burkina Faso: Balai Citoyen on Facebook 3
Marcel BAGARÉ
1.1 Problems 5
1.2 Theoretical and methodological approach 6
1.3 Good governance, the purpose of Balai Citoyen 8
1.4 The media construction of Balai Citoyen via Facebook: images and propaganda 10
1.5 Leadership: a factor of mobilization via social networks 14
1.6 Facebook and Balai Citoyen: an instrument of conquest and political struggle? 17
1.7 Conclusion 20
1.8 References 21
Chapter 2 Social Networks, New Barometers of Political Action in Côte d'Ivoire 25
Raymond Kouassi KRA
2.1 Positioning of the problem 25
2.2 Social networks and the question of their importance in the world, in Africa and in Côte d'Ivoire 27
2.3 Some message content broadcast on digital social networks 30
2.4 Mobilization and process implemented: a need for freedom met by the Internet 32
2.5 The real impact of mobilization on political action 33
2.6 Mobilization and messages 35
2.7 Social networks, political actors and the exercise of power in Côte d'Ivoire 37
2.8 Conclusion 40
2.9 References 40
Chapter 3 Mobilization for Collective Action: The Contribution of Digital Social Networks to Political Engagement 43
Gbati NAPO
3.1 State of play and theoretical framework 46
3.1.1 Digital social networks (DSNs): current situation 46
3.1.2 Theoretical positioning of research 47
3.2 Research results 48
3.2.1 Types and processes of collective action: the different types 48
3.2.2 Collective action process 49
3.2.3 Actions for collective mobilization: from the use of traditional media to digital social media 50
3.2.4 Broadening public debate on DSNs and mobilizing for socio-political demands 51
3.2.5 DSNs and broadening public debate in a context of democratic renewal 51
3.2.6 DSNs and mobilization for political participation: elections 53
3.2.7 DSNs and collective actions: examples of political engagement in Africa 54
3.3 Discussion 57
3.4 Conclusion 59
3.5 References 60
3.6 Webography 61
Chapter 4 Social Media Challenges in Citizen Participation in Africa 63
Oulaï Honoré KAHI
4.1 Theoretical context 64
4.1.1 Social media 64
4.1.2 Overview of the characteristics of the social web and social media 65
4.2 Digital public space 66
4.3 Citizen participation 67
4.3.1 Overview of citizen participation 67
4.3.2 Use of citizen blogs 69
4.4 Methodology 69
4.5 Main practical challenges 71
4.5.1 Communication challenges 71
4.5.2 Political challenges 74
4.5.3 Social challenges 76
4.5.4 Technical challenges 78
4.6 Conclusion 79
4.7 Appendix 80
4.8 References 82
Chapter 5 Medialism in the Societal Space of John Updike 85
Olivier Koffi KOFFI
5.1 A chorus of media voices 86
5.1.1 The voice of the radio: give-and-take 88
5.1.2 The voice of the telephone: a telephone narrative 88
5.1.3 The voice of television: literature on screen 91
5.2 A media description of fragmentation in social mediation 92
5.2.1 Work on the page 95
5.2.2 Media and cultural transfers 100
5.3 Conclusion 103
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About the author
ATCHOUA N'Guessan Julien, Félix Houphouët-Boigny University, Cocody, Abidjan.
BOGUI Maomra Jean-Jacques, Félix Houphouët-Boigny University, Cocody, Abidjan.
DIALLO Saikou, Virginia Modeling Analysis and Simulation Center.
Summary
The integration and use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in African countries is increasingly observable in various sectors of activity (banking, education, trade, etc.) despite a digital divide still relevant. ICT has become a major sector of the recent growth of a new informal economy in African cities (Cheneau-Loquay, 2008). This question has been at the heart of various international meetings. An overall positive and even utopian momentum is generally heard about the contribution of digital technologies to the development of African states. The adoption or appropriation of digital technologies by Africans is presented in many speeches by politicians or institutions involved in the field of cooperation and international development as an important issue for the development of this continent. These different considerations give rise to reflections on the following themes. - Social Media and Public Space in Africa - Challenges of the digital economy in Africa - ICT and modernization of higher education in Africa
