ARI’s Tech & Society Program explores how the accelerating deployment of technologies is affecting political life, economic activities, and the environment in MENA. Grounded in ARI’s approach which centers political participation and social justice, the program seeks to strengthen public scrutiny, democratic oversight, and civic participation in the deployment of these technologies. For us, the whole tech ecosystem – not just the end-user interfaces – needs to be scrutinized and debated in order to push for safer and more just societies as we move towards an ever-more digitized future.
By building an international community of practice and producing cutting-edge research, the program:
- Showcases the voices and experiences of local communities who experience first-hand the speed and breadth of technological advances;
- Centers social sciences and human impact in more technical discussions of technology in the region;
- Explores critical arenas to push for positive change;
- Examines how technologies interact with fragile governance systems and impact political participation; and
- Integrates a critical examination of technology in pursuit of ARI’s broader objective of social and environmental justice.
