Introduction
One major contribution from modernization theorists to the development discourse is the role of technology. As a dynamic phenomenon, technology is crucial in social change and occupies a pivotal place in addressing the African development agenda. It is therefore not surprising that both the United Nations-sanctioned Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) (2000–2015) and the ongoing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs ) (2015–2030) have stressed the role of technological changes in order to attain the respective goals. As the focus of current development programs, the integrative potential of technological advancements and the broader forces cannot be underestimated. Particularly, the dramatic breakthroughs in communication and information technologies (CITs) on the economy (the ‘sharing economy’) and the transformation of markets and financial transactions (M-Pesa) offer both opportunities and challenges in Africa’s development process (Hanson et al. 2018; Wallis 2016; Saeed and Masakure 2015).
The practical implications of CITs for development have further coalesced around the concept of disruptive technologies. Schumpeter (1942:83), Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy, introduced the idea of the creative-destructive forces of capitalism as a system which “incessantly revolutionizes the economic structure from within, destroying the old [system and], creating a new one.” Any new technological regime will engender innovative changes, which could give rise to positive and negative outcomes in the long run. Bringing the historical context of technology in social change to the contemporary era, the work of Clayton Christensen on disruptive technology is instructive. According to Christensen (1997), disruptive technology and innovation address how the relationship between a product or service and market can give rise to novel outcomes and in the process displace existing competitors (see also Christensen et al. 2015).
Today, disruptive technologies are changing the business environment and large well-established companies are finding it increasingly difficult to deal with powerful new technologies. Disruptive technologies have the potential to impact growth, employment and inequality by creating new markets and business practices, the need for new product infrastructure, and different labor skills. The pace at which technology is transforming our lives is exponential. Entire industries are disrupted as new business models emerge. Regulators, businesses and individuals alike must adapt, or risk becoming irrelevant. Therefore, while some may view the developing changes as a threat, others perceive the potential and harness the limitless possibilities.
Consequently, there is an ongoing African effort to review development planning visions and strategies, with a focus on technology, science and innovation revolving around digital communication (Choi et al. 2019; Pienaar and Beecher 2019; African Union et al. 2016; Yonazi et al. 2012). Several aspects of the attempts to make the required impact on African development are spurred by the twin and related issues of disruptive technologies and innovation (UNDP 2015). Two themes can be gleaned from the emerging studies on digitalization and the development possibilities in Africa. First, there is a consistent effort to focus on several areas of the African development plan, from agriculture to climate adaptation, education, conflict resolution, south-south cooperation and diversification of exports (Hanson et al. 2018). Second, digitalization has become a key driver of the development agenda (Choi et al. 2019).
This book examines how disruptive technologies and innovation underpin the attainment of a broader development agenda in Africa. Contributors show how distinctive forms of technological innovation can impact critical development processes. For example, disruptive technologies can deepen the ongoing democratic and governance waves in Africa, specifically in the area of contested elections. Similarly, innovations in agriculture, the environment and energy promote changes in value-chain agriculture, and the use of sensors to manage e-waste and sustainable energy conservation are also transforming established practices. Furthermore, the role of disruptive technologies and innovation in education, health, financial services and the nature of paid work cannot be ignored. Underpinning all the above changes is the determination to enhance and advance institutional effectiveness and governance and the move toward developing an infrastructure that can enhance the safety and well-being of citizens, improve service delivery and increase resource utilization and partnerships for development, all interconnected through the blossoming Internet of Things (IoT).
The contributors to this book, bearing in mind the complex relationship between disruptive technology and innovation, adopt various methodological approaches, ranging from case studies to comparative methods, to make contributions that shed new insights on our understanding of disruptive technologies and the African development program. The authors, drawing on their knowledge and understanding of Africa’s use of technology, highlight what needs to be done to sustain the benefits of emerging diverse technologies. In addition to identifying and analyzing the role disruptive technologies or innovations currently at play in various areas in terms of threats, opportunities and possibilities, the chapters demonstrate cases of success and failure in terms of disruptive technologies and innovation, as well as present viable pathways and good-fit practices, drawing from proven cases or illustrations in both the global North and South, for sustainable outcomes in the African context.
Individually and collectively, the authors discuss and highlight the mechanisms and initiatives that contribute to the realization of the development goals of African countries, especially in a period where disruptive technologies are rapidly changing how things are done. As a result, this book represents one of the most recent systematic efforts to bring together dialogue on disruptive technologies in Africa and will be of particular use and benefit to an eclectic audience. Apart from being a useful base for both graduate and undergraduate students in understating how disruptive technology is shaping various aspects of lives in Africa, researchers, policy makers, private sector actors, development agencies and development practitioners, in Africa and beyond, will equally find the book of significance in their understanding of the role of disruptive technology on the development process.
Overview of the Chapters
Besides the introductory and concluding chapters, the book, anchored by disruptive technology and its implications for innovation, is organized around three main themes: rethinking politics, innovation and the environment; transformations in the socioeconomic sphere; and the changing nature of wealth creation. The African state, like many others, continues to feature in the development debate, even if its influence has changed significantly. One factor contesting state power is the emergency of a vibrant civil society and network under the broader notion of governance. With several African countries pursuing democratic elections, contestations over election results have affected state power. Technological changes make it possible to rethink the state’s role when it comes to national election. Arthur, in Chap. 2, “Disruptive Technologies, Democracy, Governance, Technology and National Elections in Africa: Back to the Future?”, explores and assesses the role of mobile technologies and other forms of social media platforms to check government activities and help improve the governance, electoral and democratic processes. Arthur’s motivation is to examine the relationship between digital or mobile technology access and citizen mobilization and the implications for governance and democratic process, political communication, political accountability and electoral integrity among African countries. Drawing on examples from a number of African countries, the chapter argues that despite access to digital and disruptive mobile technologies improving governance, democratic and electoral processes, there are potential harmful effects and concerns with their use. The chapter therefore calls for better education of citizens in the use of digital technologies, as well as the establishment of strategies and policies, which will guide the use of digital and mobile technologies and social media in the political sphere.
A central aspect of disruptive technology is the possibility of innovation. Chapters 3 and 4 both address the role of innovation in agriculture and the environment, respectively. Puplampu and Essegbey, in Chap. 3, point out that agricultural research plays a major role in any system of agricultural development. It not only offers new knowledge to end users in production and marketing but also consumers. Innovation is concerned with new changes in agricultural development, either from agricultural research or in technology. The relationship between agricultural research and innovation has significant implications for value-chain development. With disruptive technology as the framework, this chapter examines the agricultural research and innovation landscape in Africa. Drawing on relevant illustrative material from other regions in the global South and discussing their relevance for the African context, the chapter pays attention to how disruptive technologies can deepen the role of value-chain development for product...