Power relations and technological transformations in Africa: A Foucauldian analysis

Abstract

The nexus between power relations and technology has emerged as a crucial point of philosophical concern and inquiry in the contemporary, rapidly evolving global landscape (Craig & Valeriano, 2017; Lee et al., 2020). Given the focus on power, it seems appropriate to employ a Foucauldian analysis of the relationship between power and technological development in Africa, given the continent's experience of colonisation which embedded specific colonial power relations that continue to shape its contemporary technological landscape. These philosophical questions become even more pressing in the age of digital technologies, which have seemingly decentralised and transformed power relations. For instance, in Africa, technology serves as a catalyst for social growth. However, power relations are defined and perceived differently based on specific social and cultural contexts (Shizha, 2016:49). This can be seen regional integration efforts as regards technology, such as the establishment of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), whose policies centralise development through technology. To understand and analyse the impact of technology on society, an important role of the Philosophy of Technology is to study its political dimensions, which involve power relations (Franssen, 2015; Hansson, 2015). Michel Foucault (1926-1984), who focuses on the relationship between knowledge and power in terms of social control, provides valuable insights for this analysis (Gutting & Oksala, 2022; Schwan & Shapiro, 2011:1). This study focuses on Foucault's insights because they lay a foundation for understanding contemporary society and the rise of subjectivity in this context (Gutting, 2013). Integrating Foucauldian understandings of power relations into the discussion offers a holistic approach to technology, essential in Africa's culturally diverse context. By incorporating history, Foucauldian methodologies provide a framework for rethinking metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics. This study thus advocates developing an African Philosophy of Technology in academia from the post-colonial context, influencing policy to support African governments in achieving the "Africa We Want