City Research Online

Abstract

The predicament of digital authoritarianism is particularly grievous for Africa because democratic institutions have been gradually eroded in several countries throughout the region. Illiberal regimes, in particular, exploit digital technologies to undermine such fragile democracies as Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Moreover, surveillance technology is expanding throughout the region as national and local governments seek to increase their capacity to monitor and control their populations—a trend that has been aggravated with the COVID-19 pandemic. This article assesses the risks posed by smart cities to democratic institutions and processes by identifying the main models of smart city development and how they conceive of the state and citizens’ relationship, then assessing how smart cities can potentially foster and consolidate digital authoritarianism, with a particular focus on the technology that a regime can exploit to pursue illiberal goals. I provide cases to illustrate how smart city systems promote digital authoritarianism and conclude by discussing proposals to mitigate the technological risks and promote democratic smart cities.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	© 2023 Taylor & Francis. This is the accepted manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis. Please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions for information on re-use.
Publisher Keywords:	Africa, Digital Authoritarianism, Digital Democracy, Smart Cities, Surveillance Technology
Subjects:	J Political Science > JA Political science (General) T Technology > T Technology (General)
Departments:	School of Policy & Global Affairs School of Policy & Global Affairs > Department of International Politics
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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