The Fourth Industrial Revolution and the Recolonisation of Africa: The Coloniality of Data

The fourth industrial revolution, driven by digital technology, will exacerbate Africa's marginalization in the international community. This book argues that Africa is being robbed of its data and digital resources, leading to recolonization. It highlights the unequal power relations and lack of regulation in data mining, making it a crucial read for researchers in African studies, politics, and international political economy.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 196 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The book makes a compelling argument that the fourth industrial revolution, characterized by the rapid automation of traditional manufacturing and industrial practices through digital technology, is poised to further marginalize Africa within the international community. The author delves into the historical context of Africa's exploitation, starting with the theft of human capital and subsequently extending to the exploitation of natural resources. They argue that this exploitation has now transitioned into a new phase, characterized by the looting of Africa's data and digital resources. Building upon the concept of "Coloniality of Data," the author posits that the fourth industrial revolution represents the ultimate stage in Africa's journey toward recolonization. Global cartels, networks of coloniality, and tech multinational corporations have capitalized on big data, often operating in an unregulated or poorly regulated environment in Africa due to the continent's lack of robust institutions capable of governing the mining of data.

Written from a decolonial perspective, the book employs three analytical pillars: coloniality of power, knowledge, and being. It highlights the persistent perpetuation of asymmetrical global power relations, which poses significant challenges to Africa's development and prosperity. This book is of utmost importance for researchers specializing in African studies, politics, and international political economy.

The Open Access version of this book, accessible at http://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9781003157731, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license. This license allows for non-commercial use, reproduction, and distribution of the book, provided that proper attribution is given to the author.

Weight: 390g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367744205